If you are in need of a good DIY gift your kids can make for Christmas- I have the perfect DIY gift for you -The Blessings Jar!
We call them “Blessings Jars” that you decorate and add written blessings you identify in your life and collect them throughout the year.
I base the Blessings Jar off of Phil 4:8, which if you have been reading me for a while, you know it’s one I share often.
***
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
***
Deep and intentional gratitude is a gift that many tend to take for granted in our hurried busy lives. This is one way we can help our kids count their blessings, but also teach them how to share them with others too.
A few years ago, we decided to make a Blessings Jar for several of our family members and friends as a special gift for Christmas. I thought it would be such a neat way to share the gift of gratitude in a simple, affordable, and creative way. Although the craft itself is easy, it’s the work my kids put into those jars that made it beautiful, intentional, and purposeful…
And well, laborious and time-consuming. 🙂 BUT it was worth it.
Here’s what you need:
Medium size Mason jar. (Or however many you want to make)
Spray paint. (Or any color you want- gold or silver glitter looks festive and pretty!)
White ribbon. (Any color! I love white with the gold or silver!))
Paper, cut into smaller sections to fit in the jar.
Pen or marker.
We bought 15 medium size mason jars, two cans of gold glitter spray paint, and one spool of white ribbon.
I spray painted the jars myself. I thought my crazy kids (7 and 10 years old at the time) and gold glitter spray paint didn’t go well together. I wasn’t up for the mess or the possibility of a spray paint war between my goofballs, so maybe you would be just fine having your kids do this part in a well-ventilated room or outside.
Your call, your house, your kids. 😉
Then my kids wrote several personal blessings on little pieces of paper to put in each person’s jar! (ie: “Grandma, you have four loving daughters!” or “Aunt Janet, you have a beautiful home!”) My kids worked hard to think of each family member or friend and identify specific blessings in that person’s life to write down and add to the jar. We split up the work throughout several days, so the kids wouldn’t get too tired with writing down all the specific individual blessings. (I had each of them write ten blessings per jar/person. This depends on the ages of your kids, of course!)
It was an incredible way for my kids to serve people they love and stretch their own perspectives to consider someone else’s life experiences. I was so proud of their ability to see the blessings in other people’s lives. I was impressed with their compassion and thoughtfulness through all they wrote down with detail and diligence, describing specific blessings each particular person experienced. I believe they knew this would be a meaningful gift and there is so much joy in working on something special for someone you love.
After the jars dried and the paper slips with written blessings were added, we tied a simple piece of ribbon around the top.
I decided to add a little note that explained the Blessings Jar with a message that would hopefully inspire the recipient to practice counting their blessings and adding more to the jar in the year to come…
The Blessings Jar
You have a bounty of blessings to behold…
In every day, every hour, every moment.
Gratitude is the greatest gift we hold,
Yet, only if we open it.
Our family has a Blessings Jar
To practice this fine art.
Taking time to seek and find
Setting time apart…
To note each thing that’s praiseworthy,
Noticing God’s Hand
The task itself brings forth the gift
Unwrap it when you can…
The children began the work for you
Claiming pieces of your life
‘Blessings’ if you will,
To start your jar tonight.
Add or read, as you need
Blessings that you know.
Look with wonder at your life
And search high and low…
Even on those difficult days
Blessings there will be
Find them through your darkest times
Look and you will see.
Collect these gifts in the jar
To read when you desire.
Find joy and hope, light and love
For gratitude has power.
***
We also filled our own jar as a family. We would use Sunday dinners to each add five blessings to our blessings jar and share them with the rest of the family. My kids sometimes groaned at this assignment. It was the ‘writing part’ that got them. But there’s something affirming in documenting our thankfulness that seems to bring it more meaning. I also reminded them that we can find gratitude in so many little things in our lives, not just the big events or celebrations or victories. And at the end of the year, we can look back and read many we would soon forget.
It would be easy to pass through our days and weeks and months with a smile and a nod, a fluttering thought and a brushing breath of gratefulness. But I want my kids to actively identify what is “excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things” with intention. This is true thanksgiving. I hope to deepen our daily gratitude and stretch us beyond a mere “thank you”. There is always this overwhelming tide that pushes furiously to the next day, which can leave us dismissing and neglecting the art of intentional gratitude.
I want to impart the greatest treasure in living with a heart that sees and recognizes each and every moment God offers us His Greatness with hopes that we develop the habit of praising Him in every detail of our lives, always striving to “think about such things”.
Perhaps my intention in teaching my kids this critical lifelong practice goes beyond their young years and into their future. At some point, there will be darker days and moments that bind their hearts with grief or sadness or anger. There may be loss and rage and injustice and pain. There certainly will be questioning and confusion and searching for answers. It’s those times, I pray they steady their course with intentional thanksgiving, and realize its illuminating power.
On New Year’s Day, we opened our jar filled with a year’s worth of blessings that we captured on paper. We read each one of them together and celebrated our abundant amount of blessings. It was a wonderful way to reflect back on the previous year and launch us forward into the next with true thanksgiving.
It’s a wonderful, affordable way to help your children not only learn the importance of gratitude but the significance of giving too.
I think those who received this unique gift counted it as a blessing.
*Feel free to use this little note and make your own blessings jar for friends, family, or loved ones OR use it with your own kids. 🙂
What a great idea! This is one of the many things that makes you a great mom. I love how you guide and teach your kids. You make them think, express and live the word of God. I especially liked how you had them think of blessing they see in friends and family. Excellent idea!
DONNA! You are such a sweetheart! My gosh, your encouragement means the world to me. Thank you SO much for coming by and reading this- and for your beautiful comment! Love you so much.
My older daughter just actually made one of these in Brownies last month and loves hers. Seriously we have extra mason jars here and she has been wanting to make more for all of us here. You just gave me a simple and gentle reminder of this. Thanks Chris and will be getting to this with her this upcoming weekend now 🙂
That is WONDERFUL! I love that your girl has one! I hope you were able to make more jars Janine!
Wow! The concept of writing and sharing blessings is so good. Way better than fortune cookies, I think. And while doing a fun activity, the kids are learning a very important life lesson. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks so much Edith! *Way better than fortune cookies* LOL 🙂
This is exactly my kind of craft! Although Scarlet read that article about scientists wanting to ban glitter and freaked and said, “Don’t worry! It’s an entire article about how they WANT to ban glitter. It’s not an article that they WILL.”
Blessings jars are a must, I say.
OH that Scarlet. God love that girl!
I’m for the ban. Just sayin’. 🙂
Oh, my heart!!!! Sharing, pinning, tweeting! My daughter needs this right now. So so beautiful!
YAY! I’m SO glad you liked this idea, Bonnalade! 🙂
This is a neat, Christine. I love the gift idea, reading what others feel are blessing would be a grand surprise gift.
I think so too, Lori! Just focusing on those things can be inspiring and I think having the kids think beyond themselves is a great exercise in thinking of others in an intentional way. 🙂
Oh, this is so beautiful, Chris! I love that your kids sat down and thought about other people’s experiences and blessings. Love your poem that goes with the gift as well. I believe your kids will take this exercise into their adulthood and use it when life throws those curve balls! xxoo
Thank you so much, Lisa! I really hope they do. It can make a world of difference. 🙂
Wonderful gift! Thanks so much Christine and all of you wonderful ladies.
Gratitude is an action word.
God is ever faithful when we listen and do his will even during those tough times.
Merry Christmas and peace on earth
Amen, Jorjann! God bless you.
Have a beautiful and blessed Christmas, my friend!
I love this Christine! You are so good at finding ways too, to bring your family together on a project. What a blessing! Thank you for sharing this!
Eh, I could do better. LOL. But this one was a good one. There is something so powerful about gratitude. Paul knew what he was talking about. 🙂
These are terrific! What a lovely idea! xo
Thanks so much, Lisa!! XOXO
This is such a great idea! I love the idea of getting the kids to make home made gifts for the family.
I was on a roll for about ten years… this year? I got nothing. Nada. Oh dear. lol
Now that the kids are older and SO DANG BUSY, I’m not sure where we would find the time to do anything. Tis the season, I suppose. The parenting season, if you will. 🙂
What an absolutely brilliant idea, Chris. It is something your kids will always remember and I’ll wager they’ll pass it on to their children in years to come. My friend started a similar thing this past January 1st. She wrote down whenever something lovely happened in her life and put them in a jar. Her plan is to open the jar on December 31st and read about all the wonderful things that happened to her in 2017. She is already one of the most positive people I know and I am delighted to think about her doing this on the 31st.
Kelly, I love your friend. Just LOVE that she’s doing something similar! Do you know that I got this blessings jar out and cut my paper for just ME to do it this year- once a day to add something beautiful…
And I have failed miserably at this little mission. Not ONE blessing has been recorded. Good grief!
Clearly, I have some work to do. lol 😉
So late here. What a precious gift and genius idea, Christine, for both giver and recipient. I’m been trying to instill more meaningful traditions in my family before my oldest takes off for college in a year and a half! This one would be so wonderful if I can get them to do it. Hope your season is bursting with blessings.
Ah, you’re such a love Julie. I think it gets harder the older they get, amIright? When they’re little, you can make them do anything. LOL
I need to do more meaningful things and set more intentional traditions around here too. Melting cookies in weird ways was a start. 🙂
I love this SO much, Chris! What a wonderful gift for both the giver and the receiver. You are such an inspiring mommy, my friend. This tradition will serve your kids in so many ways over the years.
Well, to be honest we did this for one year. LOL I’m not sure my kids would have the time to invest in something this laborious at this point. My gosh, they are so busy with sports and school. I need to come up with something more doable- but it was SUCH a great year and I am so glad we did it together- both for my kids and for all the family members we blessed with the jars. <3
I’m SO confused. I promise swear that I commented on the beauty of this post and of this beautiful craft and Christmas tradition but now? I don’t see my comment. Did I dream it? Was it eaten by your spam filter? I came back here after… well, anyway, why I checked again after not getting a new post in my email… maybe part of me knew my comment was eaten or forgotten by me. ANYWAY. I love this so much. It’s such a beautiful and lovely gift for all, including me. Thank you my friend.
I’m SO SORRY you somehow lost your comment honey! You are such a dear to come back and check and then comment AGAIN. I appreciate you soooo much. And thank you- it was a really amazing experience for ALL when we did this. <3
I hope you had a beautiful Christmas, my dear. Here's to 2018 and the hope of meeting IN PERSON!! (Can you imagine? Oh, how I'd love that.)