Our home should be a place to express ourselves, be loved and give love, feel safe, and create memories. It should also be the place where we first learn about feeling grateful.
As homeschooling families, we make our homes an extension of the learning that takes place every day. Reading aloud to our kids, snuggling on the couch to watch a movie, art supplies spread out on the kitchen table, and science projects in the backyard. In the midst of all this beautiful, messy, and creative learning, there are opportunities to express gratitude.
Simple Ways To Show Gratitude In Your Home
What you’ll find on this page:
1. A simple yet effective way my family and I used to express gratitude.
2. A Gratitude Pack
3. A list of 10 ideas that you can customize to bring gratitude into your home.
Several years ago, I was thinking of a way my family and I could express gratefulness on a continuous basis. I thought of and tried a few different ways, but none fit.
I was looking for something that:
– Would always be accessible
– We could participate at a moment’s notice.
– We could share with others.
What I decided to do was start a Grateful Wall!
I have a small area of empty wall space near the entrance of our family room. I covered it with white poster board and wrote “I Am Grateful For…” in big letters at the top, leaving the rest blank and ready to be filled in.
I started it off with a few entries scattered around, such as “I am grateful for my family that loves me” I am grateful for peaceful Sunday mornings,” and “I am grateful for long-time friends.”
I showed it to the rest of the family and explained that they could add their own thanks to it whenever they wanted.
And they have. 🙂
It brings me such joy and contentment to read it. I love reading what my family members are thankful for. Some I knew about, but some surprised me.
Download your Gratitude Pack for $1!Â
Here are more ways to show gratitude at home:
1. Gratitude Jar: Place a jar in a common area where family members can drop in notes of appreciation for each other. At the end of the week/month, read them together.
2. Thank You Board (smaller version of our Gratitude Wall): Dedicate a whiteboard or chalkboard in your home for writing daily or weekly thank you messages to each other.
3. Gratitude Walks: Take a walk around your neighborhood or garden and share things you are grateful for with each other.
4. Personalized Thank You Notes: Leave handwritten thank you notes in unexpected places like under pillows, inside shoes, or in lunchboxes.
5. Gratitude Dinner: Once a month, have a special dinner where each family member shares something they are grateful for about another member.
6. Memory Book: Create a scrapbook where you can add photos, notes, and mementos that remind you of moments of gratitude.
7. Gratitude Rituals: Establish small daily rituals, such as a morning gratitude circle where everyone shares one thing they are thankful for before starting the day.
8. Acts of Kindness: Encourage random acts of kindness within the home, like doing someone else’s chores or making a favorite snack for a family member.
9. Gratitude Art: Create a family art project where everyone contributes drawings, paintings, or crafts that represent things they are thankful for.
10. Gratitude Playlist: Compile a playlist of songs that make you feel grateful and play it during family time, in the car, or while doing household chores.
There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.
— Ralph H. Blum
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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