Brighter Skies Begin with Gratitude

Gratitude is the quiet recognition of the goodness woven through our lives — the people who love us, the simple joys that fill our days, the moments that remind us we’re not alone. As Emmons and McCullough (2003) describe, gratitude invites us to see that much of this goodness comes from beyond ourselves.

It’s more than a word — it’s a way of seeing. When we practice gratitude, we shift from longing for what’s missing to cherishing what already is, and in that shift, the sky within us grows brighter.

The Power of Gratitude

Research shows that gratitude can have a powerful impact on emotional, mental, and physical well-being:

• Improves mental health: Regular gratitude practice has been linked to reduced stress, anxiety, and depression (Jans-Beken et al., 2020).

• Supports better sleep and physical health: Grateful individuals often experience improved sleep, lower blood pressure, and fewer physical symptoms (Wood et al., 2008).

• Enhance participation and resilience: Gratitude encourages positive engagement in daily routines, strengthens coping skills, and builds resilience — key components of emotional regulation and occupational performance (Holistic OT, 2021).

Practicing gratitude doesn’t erase life’s storms — but it helps us find steadiness and sunshine in the middle of it. Over time, gratitude gently rewires our brains to notice the good more easily, helping us live with more presence, patience, and joy.

How to Create a Gratitude Jar With Your Child

Materials:

• A jar, box, or cup

• Paper slips or index cards

• Markers, stickers, or decorations

• Scissors

Steps:

1. Decorate together. Invite your child to personalize the jar with stickers, drawings, or their name.

2. Cut strips of paper.

3. Write or draw something you’re both grateful for — big or small.

4. Fill the jar with your strips of gratitude.

5. Create a routine.

   1. Morning: Start the day with one grateful thought.

   2. Dinner: Share something you appreciated today.

   3. Bedtime: Reflect on what brought joy or peace before sleep.

6. Review daily or weekly. Choose a moment or day to open the jar and read your gratitude slips aloud.

These small moments of reflection can become powerful anchors, teaching children to slow down, express appreciation, and notice beauty in everyday moments.

A Moment of Devotion

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Even when skies feel cloudy, gratitude helps us notice God’s light breaking through — often shining through the little moments with our children. A soft laugh, a curious question, a quiet hug at the end of the day — each one reminds us of the beauty in the ordinary. Gratitude doesn’t erase the challenges of parenthood; it transforms how we see them. It teaches us to find blessings in both the joy and the mess, guiding our hearts closer to God’s steady grace..

“Lord, thank You for every gift — the seen and the unseen.

Help us pause to notice the good You place around us each day.

Fill our hearts with gratitude that lifts our spirits and connects us to Your peace.

May our gratitude overflow into kindness, joy, and love for others.

Amen.”

References

Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022- 3514.84.2.377

Jans-Beken, L., et al. (2020). A perspective on mature gratitude as a way of coping with COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 584. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.574026

Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., Lloyd, J., & Atkins, S. (2008). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64(4), 479– 485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.10.014

Holistic OT. (2021). How an attitude of gratitude can improve your life. Retrieved from https://holisticot.org

Modern OT. (2021). Gratitude can change your life. Retrieved from https://modernot.ca/news/gratitude