For one day, let’s change the conversation.
There’s a lot of negative talk going around right now. It’s on the news. It’s on social media. It crops up in our day-to-day conversations. It’s easy to point out what everybody else is saying.
But today, on day six, I want us to look at the negative words that fall out of our mouths, even over the smallest things.
Not too long ago I went to lunch with friends. We stood near a couple and I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. There was a wait for a table and he was frustrated. She said something positive about the restaurant. Bam. He replied with a negative. She talked about how nice it was to be out on a pretty day. Bam. He replied with a negative.
Pretty soon, she stopped talking.
As I watched this couple, I didn’t think this was a bad guy. I believe he had fallen into the trap of negativity and had no idea the damage it was doing.
It made me wonder.
How often do I do this without knowing it?
So, how do we change the conversation?
- Listen to ourselves
It might be a habit. Maybe it feels normal. Regardless of why we do it, it’s worth listening to ourselves.
- Is negativity my go-to?
- How could I have said it differently?
- Who gets the brunt of my negativity?
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress. Proverbs 21:23 (Berea Study Bible)
- Start the day with a thankful heart
As you start your day, think of one thing for which you are thankful. Say your thankful thought out loud. I know that sounds “fluffy,” but there’s power in noticing the good.
Lord, I have a crazy busy day ahead of me, but I just want to say thank you for this warm bed. For that sweet kiss my little one just gave me. For the food in my refrigerator. Thank you for my health, for that breath I just took.
When we begin our day with a thankful heart, negativity takes its rightful place from the beginning. We still have loads of laundry, or a huge task at work, or things that are hard. We aren’t pretending that those things don’t exist, but we don’t let the negative be the boss of us from the get-go.
[bctt tweet=”What I take for granted others are praying for. Lord, help me remember that today. #livingalifeofthankyou #livingfreetogether” username=”suzanneeller”]
- Change the conversation with gratitude
When that negative word/response starts to come out, refuse it.
Give yourself permission to be honest, but also to be grateful for what is right in front of you. A few years ago I read a quote that stopped me in my tracks:
The things you take for granted are what others are praying for.
When I read that, I asked God to help me remember this personally. I didn’t want to look back one day and realize that I had taken all my good gifts for granted.
I didn’t want loss to show me what I had, but to enjoy it while it was abundant. For right now there’s something valuable we may be taking for granted: good health, a relationship, that sticky toddler kiss, a roof over our head, the person standing next to us as we wait for a table. . .
We have the power to lean into the negative or use that same breath to express gratitude. It’s our choice.
So, today — all day, let’s practice thankfulness and strip negativity of its power. Will it be easy? Most likely, no. Will it change us? Yes, yes, yes.
Suzie
Day #6 of Living a Life of Thank You
Finish this sentence:
Q: I’m thankful because . . .
Share your thankful thought today with someone else. Maybe on social media. You might be surprised at how it changes the conversation.
Hey, just so you know, I’m thankful for you. ~ Suzie
Related Resource
The more we walk with Jesus, the more we reflect who he is. These are two resources to draw you deeper into a daily life-changing relationship with Jesus.
Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Jesus
Come With Me Devotional: A Year-Long Adventure in Following Jesus
I love, love, love this! Thank you, Suzie. Let the traveling begin. 💕
“We live an honest life where we tackle hard stuff, but aren’t afraid to thank God for the miracles right in front of us.”- YES! This is it. Wonderful challenge…I’m all in!
I’m thankful for my husbands snoring, it means he is still alive, well, and we have another day to walk this wonderful life together. His table saw accident could have ended so much worse!!
I love this one!
Amen Nancy! I love that and I am thankful for you!
I love this, Suzie! I’m in! I’m thankful today for my sneezy, not-feeling-good-due-to-cold-and-allergies husband. He’s the best. And I’m thankful for Mondays back to work after a week of vacation. 🙂
I am thankful for my crazy life, and this challenge to look for the good in my crazy life!
I shared this on Facebook. I tagged a variety of friends to reach more people.
Thank you!
Thankful for friends who love me despite my messy life 🙂 Texting them this image this morning and sharing on Twitter. What a great idea, Suzie!
Love this! Pausing to find the good in everything is important. Our brain seems to go from zero to sixty on the negative what if we did the same on the positive? Last week, I received a difficult call from the principal about my stepdaughter. I was aware of the situation because she had confided in me. In the midst of talking through this with the school, I gave thanks that she trusts me enough to share her heart and her messes. She trusts my advice and that I’ll love her through the messes.
God loves me through my messes…. I want to send that same love to others.
May the gift of gratitude travel far and wide and may we give thanks for our Savior who gifts us everyday with His love, peace and hope!
Let’s ROCK this!
Heather
I am thankful for my grandlittles–they make me smile!! And my heart melts every time I hear “I love you Nana.”
I am thankful for my husband and children who I can count on no matter what happens. Also my parents who I have been blessesd to take care of and learned so much from.
I am thankful for my family and parents that I have been able to take care of in their later years and learned so much from
I am thankful for my family. For the way we are holding one another close during my husband’s deployment. I am thankful that we are counting down the last few weeks of time that will bring us back to being under one roof. I am thankful for friends that have leaned in and loved me big while I feel small.
Deployments are incredibly hard! Praising God you have family nearby – and celebrating your husband’s soon return!
Thank you Rebecca!
I’m thankful for your husband who is willing to serve and you and your family for your sacrifice of time away from him
I love this idea and grateful that you challenge us to do it. I am grateful for another new day, it gives me the opportunity to walk in love and to be a light that shines in my piece of this dark world.
I’m thankful for my mom’s medical bills. They are an indication that she is alive. Thank you God. Thank you Suzie for this.
I’m thankful that even though I dreaded coming in for work because of having Friday off i have a job to go to. I shared on Pinterest, and challenged on Facebook and Twitter.
Love this, Suzie!! The world needs more hugs and thank yous, that’s for sure!
What a awesome idea! I’m thankful for my faith, family, friends, home, job and a car that will take me anywhere I would like to go!
I’m thankful for the birth of my first great grandchild today! Despite unemployment, past due bills, there is new life and hope…thank You God!
Cheryl, there is nothing sweeter than a grandbaby! They help put life worries in its place because you feel so blessed. Have fun.
I pray for over you as you deal with such heaviness in your life right now. Lean into our father. Yes, hope is always in the Hope.
Michele
I am thankful for bedtime stories! Such a great time to cuddle with my daughters and relax. We have some really great conversations too!!
Im thankful in a tough situation, knowing God will see us through. Im still full of love for others only because of Him. Im thankful for any opportunity to help and to teach others. Willing to be willing.
Shelia, love our words, “Willing to be willing.”
Shelia, your words. Do you mind sharing them? Then they can be “ours.”
I am thankful for the journey I have gone on with my son Ben. we brought Ben into our lives when he was 7 and he has battled life and drugs for the last 25 years. He is now going to Celebrate Recovery and trying to figure out who Jesus is. This journey has taken me places I never thought I would ever go. It brought me to a saving faith in Jesus, a willingness to reach out to people in the darkest of places, and an amazing relationship of trust with Ben.
Me too Sue. My sons name is Stecen.
Sue, this is heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. Just this weekend a young man who is now in his early thirties shared his testimony at church. He was deeply addicted to meth. His parents warred spiritually for him. It appeared at times that Austin might not make it. They wrestled between tough love and love that never let go. Austin is a miracle. It’s been 10 years now that he’s clean. He’s a dad, a husband, and he loves Jesus with everything that is within him. There were times that his parents and siblings despaired so many years ago. They couldn’t see the future, but they held on to God with all their might. That’s where you are. I pray that one day we can celebrate 10 years with you as you watch your son live out his God-filled destiny. For today, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you and we call out your son Ben’s name. We ask God to grip his heart, to heal and break this addiction, and that Ben discovers that he is deeply loved by his Heavenly Father. We pray for new stories to be added to his life story, all wrapped around a life-giving Savior.
My health is a mess and complicated. I am thankful for the life you have given me Lord and the time I have left to share with my loved ones & others and to share Christ…
Dear Father, we pray over Charlotte and her health issues. Confort her, ease her pain if she is suffering from pain, and remind her she is never alone. We thank you for your precious daughter. Pour your peace and love over Charlotte and her family. In your name we pray.
Love how this turned out, Suzie! Beautiful! I’m praying that as the Traveling Thank You makes it into the lives of many, those lives are turned toward a life of gratitude! Together, we can point to Jesus and refuel the joy we have in Him!
This week I am so very grateful to be on a little mini-vacation with all 5 of us. It’s been 3 years since we’ve been able to do this with our daughter. This year, although many challenges still exist in the everyday, she is running through the sand with abandon and jumping in the water without fear! I’m thankful God is working in her to erase the fear and in the meantime giving our family some time to heal in these moments.
Love you,
Lori
I love this!
Thank you for this much needed reminder- and especially that quote! Powerful! I’m thankful for you sharing these words right when I needed them Suzie. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!
Loving this series Suzie. I needed to hear this one this morning. Thank you! (I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!)
I love this and so personal to me this season. I am finding myself just thanking God for life each day He gives. Starting out the day writing in my thankfulness journal has helped me. It completely changes my heart and attitude. It was snowing the other night and i had to stop and thank God for His provision. A warm bed and a place to live. It caused me to pray for those who might not have that. I love the moments I get to catch with my children. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness and for His strength. I am thankful for friends and sisters in Christ who build me up and help make me more like Jesus. When I focus on those things my heart fills up with joy! God forgive me when I fall into my negative slumps. Love you ladies!