I can’t speak for every family, but I think most families go around the table at Thanksgiving and (after a series of groans) everyone says something for which they’re grateful. In my experience, these are big items like “my family and friends.” But what about the little things? We tend to focus only on the “big” items and really only on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Now, I’m typically someone that groans when my mom says we have to go around the table and say what we’re thankful for on holidays (my groans have become less audible with age). I don’t think I’ve ever offered up anything other than a variation of “my family and friends.” But recently, my husband and I have been trying to spend a little bit of time focusing on the smaller things we’re grateful for each day.
As a result, we implemented a new dinnertime rule. After we say grace, we go around the table and each person says 5 things for which he/she is grateful. Our son is 3, so we only make him say 3 things and since our daughter isn’t even 1, we generally say 1 thing on her behalf. We mention things like our pillows, the fork that we’re eating with, or a running lawn mower. Little things we go about our day using without typically acknowledging them with any amount of gratitude.
It’s amazing how many things there are to be grateful for when we think on a smaller scale. Of course, we’re grateful for a wonderful family and all of our friends, but we’re also grateful for the little things. We’re grateful for a car that starts and stops, pillows, toothbrushes, clean underwear, handheld vacuums, deodorants, sippy cups, and the list goes on.
This week, I challenge each of you to go around the dinner (or breakfast or lunch) table and mention a few “small” things for which you’re grateful.