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5. Gratitude Is... - Wednesday Morning · Family Prayer Podcast

• 0:00
  Good morning, Grace Harbor. It's Dan.
• 0:03
  Now, if you were with us yesterday, then you know what
• 0:06
  today is - the big town Christmas tree lighting and block party!
• 0:10
  And, as if we needed something to make it even more magical
• 0:14
  there's a chance of snow flurries tonight!
• 0:17
  Now, this afternoon after school lets out, our whole family will head
• 0:20
  down to the church,
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  help load up the cookies and get them down to our booth. In a way,
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  because this is the big event of the season,
• 0:29
  it can feel just as much like Christmas as actual Christmas does.
• 0:34
  You know, I think there's really something special
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  about getting to celebrate with our whole town.
• 0:40
  On Christmas Day, we mostly spend time with our families
• 0:43
  and maybe some close friends.
• 0:45
  But for the block party, everyone is there.
• 0:49
  You see your neighbors. Your friends from school, work, or church.
• 0:54
  Your doctor and your dentist are there.
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  The librarian.
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  The barista who makes your coffee or hot chocolate at the cafe.
• 1:02
  The guys who cut the grass at the Rec Field.
• 1:04
  And when you see all these folks in one place,
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  and we're all having fun, you can't help but be grateful.
• 1:12
  So far this week, we focused on the discipline of intention,
• 1:17
  but I would love for us to spend a bit more time with gratitude today.
• 1:22
  Gratitude is all about recognizing the people
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  and things and experiences we're thankful for.
• 1:28
  When I think about the things I'm thankful for,
• 1:31
  they usually don't just pop up as ideas, but they come with feelings too.
• 1:37
  For me, that's usually a warm, happy feeling.
• 1:40
  I try to remember to start most days with gratitude,
• 1:44
  because it almost feels like a way to turn my heart on.
• 1:48
  It might sound a little silly to say that I need to turn my heart on,
• 1:53
  but I know I've had days where I'm grumpy and impatient,
• 1:57
  and I don't really feel like being nice or helping other people.
• 2:01
  Have you ever felt that way?
• 2:03
  It's okay to be grumpy sometimes, but
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  I find I'm a lot less grumpy when I start the day
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  naming just a few things I'm thankful for, and getting that warm,
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  happy feeling and heading out into the day ready to love.
• 2:18
  So why don't we try that together?
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  Take a few moments to think of one,
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  two, or three things you're thankful for.
• 2:27
  It could be as simple as the people you're with, the house or apartment you live
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  in, and the fact that Christmas is now only three weeks away.
• 2:37
  It also doesn't just have to be about what's going on right now.
• 2:40
  You can be grateful for something that made you smile yesterday.
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  A fun memory from Thanksgiving last week.
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  Or we can be grateful for things that haven't
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  even happened yet, but we're looking forward to.
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  Once you've picked yours, go around
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  and share with your family what you're grateful for.
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  If you have a scrap piece of paper with you or your adult has a note
• 3:03
  taking app on their phone, you could even start a gratitude list for your family.
• 3:08
  If you need more time, you can pause this podcast,
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  and I'll be right here when you get back.
• 3:42
  How did that feel?
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  Did any of you get that warm, happy feeling?
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  I wonder, did more than one person say the same thing?
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  Or how about this:
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  Did anyone name YOU as something they're grateful for?
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  That always makes me feel good.
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  Did anyone pick something that surprised you, or something that made you think,
• 4:04
  “Oh, yeah, I'm grateful for that, too!”
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  That's one of the cool things about practicing this discipline together.
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  Other people can remind us of things we are grateful for.
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  Now don't worry if you aren't really feeling any different.
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  Disciplines aren't magic tricks, and there are going to be lots of days
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  where they don't seem to make a difference that day at all.
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  But stick with it.
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  I really believe that when we practice things like gratitude,
• 4:34
  intention, and prayer, it changes us for the better.
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  Even if only a little bit.
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  And hey, a little bit each day
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  adds up to a lot over time.
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  Before we go, let's say a quick prayer. If you want to,
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  you can close your eyes and fold your hands.
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  Dear God,
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  we thank you that we have things to be grateful for.
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  We know that you love us, and one of the ways we can feel
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  that love is by recognizing the things in our lives that we love,
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  and remembering that they all come from you.
• 5:10
  Amen.
• 5:12
  All right, friends.
• 5:13
  Have a great day, and I'll talk to you tonight.