Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
EMBRACING FAMILY
Many parents ask us questions, and we share faith-based parenting advice, based on Love and Logic© and the Preventive System of St. John Bosco (Reason, Religion, Loving Kindness). We’d like to share some of these with you.
Yes, that’s right: I am grateful for five and a half things.
What might those things be?
The miracle of Christmas. A New Year. A newborn baby. My family. My health.
That’s five. So what about the half? How will you be grateful for only half of something? Why not five? Six? What’s so magical about five and a half?
Every day this year as I wake up and go here and there, I will embark on a “gratitude scavenger hunt.” Rather than allow my mind to wander randomly or aimlessly, I will be on a mission to discover things for which I am grateful.
That’s easy. I can do that, too, in about 30 seconds. This will be the easiest New Year’s resolution EVER! Finally, I will have a resolution I can actually keep!
Wait a minute. There’s a catch. First, invite family and friends to join you on this unique New Year’s resolution. This way you will have your own support group and you will be encouraging others to cultivate a grateful heart.
And as you go on your gratitude scavenger hunt every day this year, seek not to repeat any of them. Sure, that’ll be easy in January and February, but as the year progresses, you may have to be a gratitude sleuth such that you do not repeat any discoveries.
As the year progresses, it will become easier because you will gradually embody an attitude of gratitude, and you will probably discover things for which you are grateful without even thinking about it.
Whether it’s challenging or easy, be grateful for five and a half things every day, and by the end of 2022, you will have thanked God for 2,022 blessings!
We would love for you to share some of your blessings with us. Please email us. (Address below)
Feedback
Here is some feedback from a Hawaii Catholic Herald reader in response to the Q&A from the column “I believe in St. Nicholas, in the Birth of Jesus and in Santa Claus!”:
“I read this article about St. Nick in the ‘nick’ of time. I felt like we were able to talk with our children about Santa in a very factual, historical and inspirational way while still enjoying the magic of the season.”
Questions? Please email Sarah and David at Success@EmbraceFamilyLearning.com. We would be honored to lift you up in prayer and respond as well.
