At the Children’s Home, we know this time of year is challenging for residents from fractured homes, so we strive to encourage them. Our ministry goes beyond providing just shelter and basic care: We also seek to nurture their spiritual and emotional well-being, which involves taking their focus off of the negative aspects and directing attention to their blessings.
Here are a few of the essential reasons we teach our residents to be thankful in all things and find ways to practice gratitude every day.
Why We Teach Our Residents to Be Thankful in All Things
First and foremost, we believe that our residents need to practice being thankful in all things because, as Christians, we are instructed to. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) says: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We also encourage our residents to be thankful in all things because of extensive research done in positive psychology, which demonstrates how expressing gratitude can positively affect one’s emotional well-being. For example, saying “thank you” can positively impact the person being thanked and the person expressing their thanks.
Ways Our Home Practices Thankfulness
To help instill thankfulness in our residents, we introduce them to easy, practical ways to show their gratitude, such as:
Counting Blessings
Multiple studies have shown that people who dwell on their problems are more likely to have sour attitudes or negative perceptions of themselves or their life circumstances. In contrast, those who deliberately count their blessings daily have increased optimism, happiness, and thankfulness. In other words, thankfulness creates more thankfulness!
Gratitude Journaling
This is one of the easiest ways to count blessings and make them stick. To create a gratitude journal, we recommend getting something to write on (sketchpad, notebook, etc.) and to write with (pen, pencil) or use the ‘notes’ section on a personal device. One can use these tools to record things to be grateful for or people who deserve appreciation and thanks. After several days, it’s good to reflect on the entries. This can help residents (and others) envision and remember life’s little blessings and moments of appreciation.
Prayer
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV) says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Prayer is a powerful tool for fostering gratitude. We encourage our residents to include thanksgiving in their daily prayers, thanking God for His goodness, enduring love, protection, and provision of basic needs.
We believe in the power of prayer and the role thanksgiving plays in our daily life here at the Children’s Home.
Thanksgiving and Giving
Many people who get to spend the holidays with family every year fail to realize what a blessing and privilege that is! One great way to be a blessing and minister to others is through charitable giving.
If you’re looking for a good cause for Giving Tuesday 2023, you can make a positive impact on the lives of residents by supporting our ministry at the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home.
We provide a safe, loving home to children and teens (ages 6–18) impacted by challenging home situations, and we give them the stability they need to heal, learn, and grow. To support our residents, we invite you to donate your financial or spiritual gifts as you are able.