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Encouragement for Moms

My Favorite Christmas Gifts To Give

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Today I want to share my favorite Christmas gifts to give that you can make with your kids.  

BLESSINGS JARS.

Holiday Christmas gifts to make for loved ones. Gratitude and blessings.

 

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

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.  Gratitude has power.  And it is a gift that many tend to take for granted… Including me and my family.

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 and well, laborious and time consuming. BUT it was worth it.

Here’s what we did:

We bought 15 medium size mason jars, a can of gold glitter spray paint, and some white ribbon.

I spray painted the jars outside. I thought kids, (who were 7 and 10 at the time) and gold glitter spray paint didn’t go well together. This was just a hunch. 😉

Then my kids wrote several personal blessings on little pieces of cut out paper to put in each person’s jar to get them started! My kids worked hard to think of each individual and identify specific blessings in that person’s life to write down and add to the jar. We split up the work between days, so the kids wouldn’t get too tired in writing down all the specific individual blessings. It was an incredible way for my kids to serve those they love and stretch their own perspectives out 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 for each person’s jar. That alone was worth doing this project!

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 explains the Blessing Jars and a message that would hopefully inspire the recipient to practice counting their blessings too…

  

The Blessings Jar

You have a bounty of blessings to behold…
In the 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 is 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 take, as you need
Blessings to and fro.
Look with wonder at your life
And search high and low…

Even on those difficult days
There’s still a light you’ll see
Find blessings in your darkest times
When God will be with thee.

Collect these gifts in the jar
To read when you desire.
Find joy and hope, light and love
For gratitude has power.

 

We have filled our own jar on a regular basis, by writing down on a piece of paper what we are thankful for and putting it in the jar. This can be challenging as my kids may groan or sigh in this assignment. Even my husband and I struggle to remember the sometimes small blessings that have occurred throughout the week’s fullness and busyness. I remind them that we can find gratitude in so many little things in our lives, not just the big events or celebrations or victories.

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 our family to record and affirm with intention- true thanksgiving.  I seek to further our thoughtfulness and grow 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 deep intentional gratitude.

I want to teach my children the art of threading gratitude into their every day life.

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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 life long practice, goes beyond their young lives and into their future. There will at some in their lives, 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.

Every New Year’s Day, we have opened our jar filled with a year’s worth of blessings that we have captured on paper. We read each one of them together and celebrate our abundant blessings.

I keep that jar filled with all the little papers of blessings and date the year. I hope to continue collecting these jars as we grow and learn what it means to live, bringing to light all that is worthy of praise.

*Feel free to use this little note and make your own blessing jars for friends, family, or loved ones. 🙂

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Comments

    • momcafe says

      Thank you SO much Gina!!! YES! Definitely start your own!! I know you could use more blessings in your life, but at least you can start by counting some you DO have. Right? XOXO 🙂

      Reply

  4. Ilene says

    This is beautiful in every way. And yes, gratitude is a practice. And one that if we can ingrain in our kids, they will be healthier, happier, and more giving. Love this Chris!

    Reply

    • momcafe says

      AMEN to THAT Ilene!! Just like anything else, it’s a habit we need to practice over and over again to get it ingrained in our kids. It’s SO important to do that with many character issues- gratitude being one of them for sure!

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      I bet you have Jen!!! And I KNOW every single one who receives something from you, will be SO grateful!!! You are so talented!!

      You need to have a giveaway for one of your scarves!! Just sayin’. 😉

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      I LOVE it Lisa!!! Maybe share it with your bible study friends as well!! You can make up any rules to go with it, it’s just a lovely way to focus on all of our blessings- whether weekly, daily, or even monthly. I started mine with just a random, “Hey that’s worth writing down!” And realized we really needed a set time each week to focus on it, or it wouldn’t get done.

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      I gotta say, I actually am so proud of those words! I think they are my favorite part of this gift! 🙂

      It’s just like you to notice that… and once again bless me in doing so. Gosh, how I love that about you!! XOXO

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      YES! I think we ALL could use them… who doesn’t need more gratitude in their life? AMIRIGHT? 🙂 I am constantly reminding myself to acknowledge the goodness in everything. I love the idea of giving others the ‘nudge’ to do the same.

      Reply

  13. Beth Teliho says

    I. Love. This. My husband and I were discussing several ways we could teach the boys more gratitude. I think hands-on activities do this better than anything. I’m totally doing this with them! I know they’ll really get into it. Thank you, Chris! Xoxo

    Reply

    • momcafe says

      I wish I could figure out/remember where I saw it first!! Isn’t it the BEST idea ever??? And these gifts- I think the kids learned SO much and practiced the fine art of gratitude a lot, while doing them! Best win-win ever!! 🙂

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      Thanks so much Manal!!! They are AWESOME!!! I just love how our jar is full! I am also getting excited to open it and read all the blessings of the year on New Year’s Eve!!! 🙂

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      I could TOTALLY seeing you doing it with your girls!!!! It’s SO easy! The crafty part, anyway! But I bet your girls will NAIL the blessings part too…. 🙂

      Reply

    • momcafe says

      I wrote it!! You are so sweet to acknowledge it. I felt that sense of “YES” after I wrote it- you know that feeling. I copied that on pretty Christmas paper as well… 🙂
      Thanks so much for stopping by to take it all in!! XO

      Reply

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