Gratitude for Family

Family life can be complicated and isn’t always peaceful, but generally speaking, we know that we can count on family for love and support. Sometimes we don’t realize how blessed we are to have the parents, siblings, children, etc. that we have, until we are no longer living with them. We often take these relationships for granted.

Let’s work to foster feelings of gratitude for each other in our families! Parents, we are the primary examples to our kids. Let’s tell them how thankful we are for them and let them see us tell our spouses how thankful we are for them, too. Let’s invest in these relationships and hold them up as valuable–to ourselves, to each other, and to others looking in at our families. Let’s be intentional about looking for the good in these relationships, for ways we can make them better, and for ways we can express our gratitude for them.

And let’s not forget to express gratitude for our extended family members, too. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws… All of these are natural relationships that can have great impact on our lives. Let’s be intentional about fostering these relationships, as well.

November and the Thanksgiving season tend to bring about more thoughts of the importance of family, and families often spend more time together during these weeks. Don’t take this gift for granted! Look around at each other and make a point to speak words of life and gratitude to each other. None of us knows what the next year or even the next day holds; let’s not waste these opportunities with our families.

What family relationships are you particularly grateful for? Ask your kids what they are grateful for about each family member. Then share some of your and their answers in the comments!