It’s November! The month of cooler temperatures—in the northern hemisphere at least, the buzz of holiday preparations, and the time when many of us try to remember to be grateful. I don’t know about you, but I love a good quote about gratitude!
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” -Unknown
“The root of joy is gratefulness.” -David Steindl-Rast
“Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” -Doris Day
Every November I find myself looking for a new quote on gratitude that will instill in my kids the desire to be kinder and say, “Thanks!” I will often display them on my quote board.
I do this every year. However, the gratitude quotes that inspire me most are the ones I read from my own children. At the beginning of November, usually in the first week, (but sometimes in the second, because November sneaks up on you, am I right?) we make a perfectly imperfect gratitude tree. We take time for a family night to break out the construction paper and cut out parts for a trunk to tape up on the wall. Some years I have forgotten that we were out of construction paper and just grabbed some white paper to color brown, because my kids are always up for an art project! Heck, we live in Colorado where Aspen and Birch trees grow abundantly, so technically we could just leave the bark white and call ourselves modern.
Anyway, this year, my 11-year-old wanted to create the trunk and tree branches by himself.
After taping up the tree in a place that I wouldn’t have chosen, my husband saw my face as I was about to suggest that he move it and interjected, “Doesn’t it look great? Didn’t he do a good job!?!” and of course I agreed. And really, I’m grateful he was excited enough to do that part on his own—see how this little tree is already instilling gratitude in me? Magic!
Then we cut out leaves. You can print some leaves if you’d like, but I just free hand doodle some and let my kids, who are good with scissors, get to it. My 9 and 11-year-olds draw and cut their own.
The best part about this tree is the glimpse that I get of what they appreciate in their lives. Often, I read their leaves and smile to myself as I feel gratitude for their sweet presence in my life. I am lucky!
We cut out extra leaves and put them in a basket with some pens and tape so that they can fill out at least one more each day. The first couple of days they do so without reminder. Often one will remember to do it and the rest will follow.
I cherish this little tradition of ours.
I am grateful for gratitude learned. And while I always start this tradition in an effort to engender a sense of gratitude in the hearts of my children, I always find that my own heart is filled with gratitude.
This is not something that need only take place in November. You can do a Spring tree, or a snowman scene, or a Summer tree full of green to help reset the focus in your family. I know we could use a reminder more than one month out the year.
So, go discover the quotes on gratitude that your kids, or grandkids, or spouse, or roommates who are just waiting to write. No doubt it will fill your life with magic too.
