Give Thanks

Marrying into a family that upholds several traditions has been meaningful to me. Now that we’re eight years and three children into our marriage, it’s been particularly special developing our own traditions and seeing the impact they have on our boys. One of my favorite traditions is our use of a gratitude journal throughout the month of November to document what we are thankful for. I love establishing a month of gratitude, as it prepares our hearts for Thanksgiving and develops in each one of us a more acute sense of just how much we have to be thankful for. We began this tradition three years ago after I purchased a journal at the Paper Source specifically called Gratitude: A Journal. Any notebook would do, but there’s just something about having a designated space for this annual tradition. Three years ago puts us back to life with only two children- a toddler and a baby- so every day’s listing only included notes from my husband and me. Fast forward a year and our oldest, then three year old, wanted to join in so we included his little thanksgivings as well. Last year, both of our boys were eager to be a part of this family tradition. Our at-the-time youngest had the same item he was thankful for every single day. Trains! I wondered if it was worth our while to record it every day since it was so redundant, but I did. And now, one year later, I’m so glad I did!

When we break out all the fall decorations, usually some time in September, we are first greeted by the coral cover of our gratitude journal that rests on top of my fall leaf garland and craft store pumpkins stored inside the seasonal decor bin. While we decorate for the season early enough in September it still feels like summer, we place the gratitude journal in it’s special place, not to be opened until the first of November. By then, the weather has taken on a chilly air, most of the trees have shed their leaves, and we’re now bundled in sweaters and wooly socks. The first day of November, while we’re gathered around the dinner table, I crack open the cover of our gratitude journal and read all our previous entries. I read lists of thanksgiving for individual family members, for beautiful weather, for a full night’s rest (clearly it stood out during a season of caring for a baby), evidences of grace and growth we have seen in one another, for provision. And for trains. How my toddler would not let us forget how thankful he was for his toy trains! I finish reading the last entry and look up, only to notice how a smile is now present on each family member’s face.

“I want to go first! I want to go first!” My five year own raises his hand in eager excitement to record the first thanksgiving of the year. I grab a pen, date the page, and begin to write his name into the journal.

“No, Mom! This year, I want to write my own thanksgiving!” I look at him and realize what a milestone we’ve had this year (him as a student who can independently write; myself, as a parent of a child who can now write!).

“Alright”, I say, as I pass the journal across the table to him. He intently stares at the page and I can see his lips move as he sounds out the words he intends to scrawl onto the page. We all watch as he jots down his note and he proudly passes the journal back to me.

This tradition of choosing joy, of stopping to find the beauty in the every day, has seasoned the season. Seasoned it with grace. Seasoned it with kindness. Seasoned it with love.

“What did you put, Buddy?” my husband asks our five year old.

“I’m thankful I have so much to be thankful for!” he beams.