Let Us Be Thankful

I am going to be attending a conference for Mom's this weekend called Hearts At Home, with my Mom and one of my best friends.  I have attended this a couple of times with my friend, this will be the first time that my Mom is attending.  This always ends up being such a refreshing, rejuvenating weekend for me.  I come home so thankful for my husband and my kids and somehow by knowing that I am not the only Mom that has "those" days, I find an inner peace and a new energy to be the best Mom I can be.  The founder of Hearts At Home is Jill Savage and she has such a nice way of thinking of things and putting them into words.  I receive a monthly newsletter from her and this month I wanted to share one of her articles.  As Thanksgiving approaches, I think we can all be reminded just how truly lucky we are to have the "simple" things in life - which really aren't simple at all, but the core pieces of our world that make us who we are.  Enjoy!

Thank you, God, for the laundry.


That seems like an odd prayer, doesn't it? But it's one I'm actually praying more often.

Turn on the television these days and you'll find just about every kind of makeover show possible. We seem to be drawn to this makeover madness by our desire for something fresh and new in our complicated, and sometimes disorganized, lives.

I've recently become aware of a makeover I can do every day. It doesn't cost a dime. It doesn't require an expert. And it takes very little time.

Rather than the external makeovers we see on television, this is an internal makeover that starts in my head and moves to my heart. It's initially unseen by the outside world, but if I stay focused on this "inside job," it will eventually become very apparent to those around me.

This might be called an "extreme heart makeover," because it moves my heart from grumbling to gratefulness.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I'm pursuing this makeover as it pertains to the work I do for my family everyday. I sometimes exhibit an ungrateful attitude in doing these tasks when I forget what blessings the tasks actually represent. This week I'm working on a shift in thinking. I'm considering a different perspective. As I evaluate all my responsibilities, I've discovered I'm thankful for:

•Laundry...because it means that my family has clothes to wear.


•Dishes...because it means that my family has food to eat.


•Paying Bills...because it means that we have financial provisions.


•Making Beds...because it means we have a warm, soft place to rest at night.


•Dusting...because it means we have furniture to enjoy.


•Vacuuming...because it means we have a home to care for.


•Picking Up Toys...because it means I have children to bring joy to my life.


•Homework...because it means my children can learn and progress through life.


Would you like to join me in this exercise? What part of your life seems to be the most overwhelming? What do you grumble about most often? What tasks, responsibilities, or challenges bring about frustration or anger?

Once identified, ask yourself what blessing you haven't been able to see. Now focus on the blessing and thank God for what it means in your life. Watch your perspective change from grumbling to gratefulness in no time flat. The "extreme heart makeover" is available to every mom, every home, and every family every day.

I can't think of a better way to capture the essence of Thanksgiving.

Keeping hearts at home,

Jill Savage,
Wife of Mark
Mom to Anne, Evan, Erica, Kolya, and Austin (and "Nana" to 6-month-old Rilyn!)