January 29: Make a Gratitude Box
One day, years
after I discovered the power of gratitude, I was feeling stuck, stymied,
and ungrateful. Again. After a few minutes of this, I knew what to do. I
understood clearly what the remedy for my situation was.
I went to a shop in town and picked out
the most beautiful little box I could find. It was silver, with
engraving on it. About four inches tall and six inches wide. Then I went
home and took out a pad of paper. I tore it into tiny little strips. On
each piece of paper, I wrote one thing that was bothering or troubling
me—from finances, to work, to love.
When I had finished writing out my
troubles list, I started on another one. Now, on each slip of paper, I
wrote down the names of people I wanted to pray for, the people I loved,
the people I wanted to ask God to bless.
When I finished, I put each little strip
of paper in the box. Then, I held the box in my hands and thanked God
for everything inside.
I still have my gratitude box. I keep it
in plain view. People think it’s just a pretty decoration, but it means
a lot more than that to me. From time to time when I feel down, I open
the box. I take out one slip of paper, and I practice gratitude for
whatever slip I happened to pull out. Sometimes, I pull out a name of
someone I want God to bless. For that day my mission is to surround that
person with my prayers.
Most of the troubles I put in that box
have long since been resolved. But the box is still around to remind me
of the power of gratitude.
Do you have some problems in your life
today, areas that you can’t seem to resolve? If you don’t already have
one, consider making a gratitude box. Remember, there’s a difference
between knowing about the power of gratitude and actually applying
gratitude in our lives.
God, help me do the things I know will help me to feel better.
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