Gratitude Challenge 2021

It’s that time of year again … time for our 30 Day Gratitude Challenge and getting ready for the holidays and focus on gratitude with our family. This is my 8th year to publish our Thanksgiving Series and you’re going to love it.

I am privileged to have awesome bloggers that will offer help to grow gratitude and thanksgiving in your family.

What’s the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge?

This past year, I’ve realized how often God tells us to be thankful. Consider these verses to teach your kids that God wants them to have a spirit of gratitude.

just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

Colossians 3:12-15

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Before you start the Gratitude Challenge as a family or individually, choose a Bible verse to memorize during the month of November. Practice it each day at a meal. Tie your new memorization habit to a habit you already do, such as eating a meal.

From a Biblical perspective, we know we should have a spirit of thankfulness. It is God’s will for us to show gratitude and teach our kid to be thankful.

Show your kids that focusing on giving thanks, moves their “me” attitude from themselves to God. Taking our Gratitude Challenge is a daily reminder to give God thanks and focus on Jesus.

Did you know there are many other benefits for being thankful? Take a look at just a few from research on gratitude.

• Increased optimism
• More & better quality of sleep
• Improved relationships
• Sense of connectedness
• Positive emotions
• Increased sense of well-being
• Cope better with stress and major adversities

Some people say . . .

You’re either born as a thankful person or you’re not.

But don’t believe them!

As I’ve shared in several videos this year, our brains can be trained to think differently. Each of these videos share ideas to help you quit worrying and find things to be thankful for.

Remember: pay attention and you’ll start being more thankful. Use our Gratitude Challenge to help your kids pay attention and be thankful every day.

When my life fell apart four years ago, I didn’t want to fall into constant negativity. So, I focused on the positive and continued writing at least 3 things a day in my gratitude journal.

Some days were harder than others. That’s why I created the Gratitude Challenge. It’s an way to ease into thankfulness every day.

Just last week, I was driving home and hit a green light at every signal light. That’s a miracle in itself. After two or three green lights, I thanked God for each green light. My brain had changed to pay attention to good things, even small things.

How Can You Use Gratitude with Your Children?

Don’t start with a bunch of research; start with one of the Bible verses above. Discuss it and start memorizing it as a family. Recite it each morning at breakfast.

Finally, let your kids take the 30 day gratitude challenge. Why 30 days? Many say it takes 30 days to form a new habit. So, let’s give thanks for 30 days and begin the habit of thankfulness in your family.

To help you out, I’ve created a simple 30 Day Gratitude Challenge Printable. Each person in your family should have their own printable. At dinner time or bedtime, let your kids write what they are thankful for that day. There is enough space on the printable to let your kids write what they are thankful for that day.

Younger kids might use the printable with prompts for each day. Even preschoolers can take on the challenge with the thank you prompts on the printable.

For, older kids and parents, I suggest writing at least 3 things you are thankful for each day. Once you sign up, you’ll receive an email with specific ideas for older kids.

Be sure to check back here (or sign up for our email updates in the upper right sidebar) throughout November for lots of great ideas to help you teach gratitude to your kids. For now, take the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge and get your free printables below.

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