Getting Gratitude in My Attitude: Practical Steps to Encourage Thanksgiving

As a mom, it feels like my heart of gratitude is constantly under attack. Motherhood is tough. Some days it feels impossible. The tasks that are involved with the daily act of motherhood are often repetitive, monotonous and go unnoticed.

Whether it be chores that go unnoticed, teenage attitudes, or the constant exhaustion that goes hand in hand with mommyhood, it's often hard for me to find joy as I go through my day to day tasks. And yet that is what we are called to do.

"Praise be to the LORD, 

for he has heard my cry for mercy.

The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy

and I will give thanks to him in song."-- Psalm 28:6-7

Although the circumstances in which David wrote this Psalm are largely unknown, the verses that follow point to trouble on a large scale. Even when trouble is mounting, both large scale and small, we are called to leap with joy because of what the God has done. But what does that look like practically?  When you are surrounded by mountains of laundry, a sink full of dishes and are feeding the dog bread, chicken and rice because you haven't made it to the store, how do you train your heart to leap with joy?

1. Try a gratitude journal: There is a huge variety of these for sale, but I keep it simple. It is part of my daily journaling. I use a blank journal and write out my items of gratitude, both big and small. Sometimes I concentrate on a certain person in my life, sometimes items are repeated many times over, but I list the things I am thankful for. In some seasons, I could go on for pages and in some, I find myself grasping for words. I can always find something. This changes my outlook and attitude for the whole day.
2. Remind yourself to refocus: I have certain items throughout my house that remind me of the things I am most thankful for. My Stones of Remembrance, family heirlooms, pictures and mementoes scattered throughout the house and  scripture that I have posted all remind me to refocus and find the joy that lies beneath all of the to do lists and daily tasks.
3. Express your Gratitude: When I encourage others, speak the things that I am thinking, I find myself thinking less about myself and more about others. This naturally brings joy as you serve others out of love.