God in Gratitude: A Thanksgiving Gratitude Exercise

God can be seen in everything we are thankful for. I'm taking a step back to look at my year to date and reflecting on all the ways I see God in my gratitude.

During this year's Thanksgiving Eve service, our pastor encouraged us to go beyond just naming what we are thankful for and to look for how God is present and working in those blessings.

We used the following questions to do this Thanksgiving gratitude exercise:

How do you see God's wisdom?

How do you see God's grace?

How do you see God's faithfulness?How do you see God's power?

How do you see God's compassion?

How does God delight in this?

I have found myself continuing to think about these questions and all the blessings this year has held. See for yourself how God has been working in my life:

Note: I included which question came to mind for each moment in parentheses following the first sentence.

January God in Gratitude

My 27th Birthday

God has blessed me with so many wonderful years (faithfulness). I look at each one and know what others have endured in even shorter amounts of time. It isn't lost on me how fortunate I am to have had excellent health, financial freedom, a loving (and growing family), and so much more.

A Weekend Away

God blessed me with wonderful parents who are willing to take care of my daughter as if they were her own (compassion). This allowed Nick and me to join our local snowmobile club for a weekend trip up north UTVing (no snow) in a beautiful cabin. It was just the time I needed to be refreshed.

February God in Gratitude

My Little Valentine

God blessed me with a little girl who became another valentine I get to love on every year (wisdom). She was walking well by the holiday this year, so it was extra fun. She fell in love with a huge teddy bear balloon the week of Valetine's Day that was literally bigger than her. We brought it home, and I swear I've never seen such joy.

Mamma Mia

God blessed me with an appreciation for the arts (delight). I grew up in a house that attended many plays, musicals, and other fine arts opportunities. Nick never did, so I was so thankful when dear friends of ours offered the opportunity to see a broadway performance of Mamma Mia. It was so fun introducing him to something new that has always meant so much to me.

March God in Gratitude

A Surprise Date

God blessed me with a love of surprises (wisdom). My thoughtful husband, who knows that about me, secretly arranged for my mom to watch Ember while we went to lunch, ran a few errands, and got a Shamrock shake (one of my favorite spring treats!). It was a simple afternoon filled with quality time, which was perfect.

The Easter Egg Hunt

God blessed me with a love of games (delight). When my in-laws host Easter, you can usually bet on some egg hunts being involved. I loved getting to run around, looking for the "big kid" eggs and discovering the treats they contained. It was even better witnessing Ember participate in her first egg hunt. She picked up every egg herself and filled her basket!

April God in Gratitude

The Swing Set

God blessed our family with a pretty sweet swing set (grace). Finding a good swing set that doesn't cost a fortune isn't easy. A nearby neighbor was going to burn theirs. Thankfully, Nick knew it was in pretty great shape and got it for free. He replaced a few boards and purchased some accessories, and now it will be a place to make memories for years to come.

Celebrating Friends

God blessed me with a desire to celebrate others (delight). I'm always down for a good reason to shower people with love and joy. I had the opportunity to celebrate not one but two friends - one for her final dance recital as a teacher and the other for her bridal shower.

May God in Gratitude

A Little Fish

God blessed us with new experiences and great teachers (wisdom). Ember had her first round of swim lessons! These were mommy and me style and mostly for water exposure, but they helped her so much. It was so fun to see how much she grew each week. She went from being pretty fearful of water to not really wanting to leave.

Mother's Day

God blessed me with the title of "Mom" (faithfulness). I will never take a Mother's Day for granted. It is such a special reminder of one of the greatest gifts and roles I will ever have. I loved being able to spend some time with my mom and mother-in-law, as well as enjoy some of my favorite things with my daughter (good weather and ice cream!).

June God in Gratitude

Beautiful Weather

God blessed us with a month of pretty perfect weather (power). This is the time of year when you really want to be outside, and we really had sunshine and prime temperatures for outdoor fun. Ember loved playing with her water table, going for walks, and watering flowers.

Boat Days

God blessed us with quality lakes close to home (delight). This was one of the times when Ember has impressed me the most. She would wear her life jacket every single time and not complain once. She loved boating so much to the point where she would ask to go multiple times during our bedtime routine.

July God in Gratitude

July 4th Parade

God blessed us with freedom and choices (grace). Despite its issues, we sure are fortunate to live in the United States. We always enjoy celebrating Independence Day by attending a parade. When I tell you Ember lived her best life, I mean she REALLY loved the floats and candy. Seeing her excitement will always be a core memory of mine.

Family of Four

God blessed us with a baby (faithfulness). We always knew we wanted our kids to be two and a half years apart. While, ultimately, plans don't always turn out as you expect and hope, this one did. We are so excited to welcome another Little Leystra in March. What a gift!

August God in Gratitude

Casting Crowns

God blessed us with the chance to make memories and worship him (delight). My family doesn't plan many organized outings, so it's always a special time when we go out and do something like this. We have always loved the sights, sounds, food, and activites of the Wisconsin State Fair. We experienced a rain delay after we were already in our seats, which was definitely memorable!

Saying Her Name

God blessed us with the sweet sound of childrens' voices (wisdom). Ember learned to say her name, and hearing it in her little voice immediately puts a smile on my face. There is something so precious about a toddler learning words and pronounciation. I also appreciate how much easier communication between us is becoming!

September God in Gratitude

Nick's 27th Birthday

God blessed me with a hardworking husband (wisdom). Nick is so easy to celebrate. I am so thankful for the birthdays I have already been able to celebrate with him, and each one feels so special. He works so hard to provide for our family. We celebrated with a birthday burger from The Dump and Dairy Queen ice cream cake with friends and family.

A Change of Pace

God blessed me with redirections and fresh starts (faithfulness). I left my corporate job in the spring for a start up. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I had expected so I made the tough decision to protect my peace and leave. At first, it was quite scary to drop to living off one income, but God has been so faithful in providing our every need (and more!). We were able to celebrate our 4th anniversary as a family during a weekend trip to Chicago, and I have been able to enjoy so much more time with Ember.

October God in Gratitude

Birthday Girl

God blessed us with loving and supportive friends and family (compassion). Every parent knows it really does take a village to raise kids. Ember celebrated her 2nd birthday, and it was nothing short of magical. It was so sweet seeing who showed up to shower her with birthday wishes and fun. Plus, she is really starting to understand the concept of a birthday, which made it all even better.

A Healthy Baby

God blessed us with a positive 20-week ultrasound (faithfulness). Everything looks good with our sweet babe! It's crazy because all of the measurements are nearly identical to what Ember's were. We are getting so excited to meet this baby and see our family grow.

November God in Gratitude

She's A Big Girl

God blessed us with a smart and sweet daughter (wisdom). Just thinking about all the ways Ember has grown up over the last month is pretty mind blowing. She has transitioned out of her crib, she is mostly potty trained, she knows how to dress herself (at least the lower half lol), she can open most doors unassisted, and the list goes on. She even recognizes that she is growing up, because when she does some of these "adult" things, she will tell you she is a "big girl."

Meat In The Freezer

God has blessed us with another year of venison (grace). On opening day, Nick saw a few deer early in the morning and regretted not harvesting one when he didn't see any more by close . Each time he had gone out after that, he didn't see any deer. However, on Thanksgiving morning, only a few minutes after open, he saw a large doe and was able to bring it home.

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I'd encourage everyone to try this Thanksgiving gratitude exercise for themselves. Even if you've had a hard year, I think you will be surprised how much there is to be grateful for and how much God has been active in your life.

May we all never stop feeling gratitude and praising the Lord like we do around this Thanksgiving season!