Tag: gratitude journal

Practicing Gratitude

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” (Ps 95:2-3)

Being grateful isn’t something that comes naturally. We’re inherently selfish and focused on ourselves. We don’t always feel thankful. There are a lot of bad things happening in this world, and it’s sometimes hard to figure out how to be thankful in the midst of them.

Learning to be grateful takes practice. When faced with a trial or an unexpected bump in the road, my first thought is never how thankful I am for the difficulty or inconvenience. How I wish it were! Turning my mind from my struggles and onto the things for which I’m thankful allows me to grow closer to God and to receive physical and psychological benefits. Continue reading “Practicing Gratitude” →

Battling the Winter Blues

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Th 5:11)

The long, cold winter and gray skies were bringing me down. It seemed winter would never end, and this year my seasonal affective disorder (SAD-an apt acronym if ever there was one) has been triggered more often than in many recent years. The older I get, the more I hate cold weather, which is common of many of us who have SAD. The combination of cold, gray skies, and short days is enough to send me into a spiral of irritability and sadness. I try to keep those feelings to myself so that I won’t damage my relationships, but my friends and family who know me best are aware of how I feel and try to encourage me and talk me through it. Continue reading “Battling the Winter Blues” →

Keeping a Gratitude Journal

Posted on by Staci Mauney
My journals

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Ps 107:8-9)

I’ve written before about my gratitude journal. As a writer, I know it’s important to keep a journal to practice my craft. As a Christian, I know a journal can provide a way for me to look back and see God moving in my life. But even though I know these things, I have found it difficult to write consistently in my journal. Continue reading “Keeping a Gratitude Journal” →

The Thanksgiving List

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Ps 100:4)

This month, the theme of my blog posts revolves around having an attitude of thanksgiving. Over on prestigeprose.com, I’ve written a series of writing prompts to inspire a grateful attitude. This week’s prompt is to write a list of 25 things for which I’m thankful. Family and friends are a given, as is Lilly, so I didn’t include people unless I’m referring to them as a group. My goal is to dive deeper, below the surface, to discover everyday things for which I’m thankful. Continue reading “The Thanksgiving List” →