Gratitude Journal
I am an avid reader, well Audible listener 😉, and have enjoyed many books over the years. One book in particular, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, captured my heart in 2019….the book challenged me to find joy in all circumstances and to actively seek out gratitude in the mundane, the tedious, the difficult, the pain. Ann introduced the idea of a “gratitude journal” in which she encouraged her readers to write down things each day they can be thankful for. In 2019, Alex and I were a few years out from our marriage’s near-implosion…while we were in a healthier place, I was convicted that the exercise of seeking things to be thankful for about my husband would be a much needed daily exercise for my heart.
Historically, journaling has never been a strength or interest…but something about this idea of a gratitude journal was so simple - find something to be thankful for each day and jot it down. I thought, “I could do this.”
I purchased a small journal and committed to writing in it each day. The journal lived right next to my work laptop, so its mere appearance each morning would nudge me to dive in. I would write about something I loved and admired about Alex, or something I had witnessed him doing that I was so appreciative of or enjoyed. How this would stir my heart and affection for him! But there were also days wrought with conflict between us, and on these days when anger and frustration were ruling my flesh, I would pray to God about Philippians 4:8, “Lord, please help me to find something honorable, lovely, praiseworthy, or excellent about Alex.” And He has always been faithful to answer this prayer, redirecting my eyes to focus on the MANY things Alex does each day to love me and others around us so well.
At the end of that first year of journaling, I decided to give it to Alex as a Christmas gift. His reaction surprised me - he opened the journal, looked at me and asked, “you’re giving me your journal as a gift? I’m confused.” 🤣 Ha! I asked him to keep reading…he was equal parts touched, and feeling unworthy to receive a book of praise about him and his character. He asked that we spend the next few months together, reading the journal entries one day at a time. It was incredible to read day by day what was occurring in our lives and marriage the year prior and to see how God was encouraging me to see my husband as He does. This first journal in 2019 captured our move to a new home, our youngest daughters starting high school, a suicide attempt by a family member, Alex pressing hard toward the finish line of his MBA, a relapse into pornography, along with our 2nd journey through our church’s 12-step program called re:generation. What a gift to have a book journaling such a challenging year and to see on each page how God worked through it all, pushing my eyes and heart to see all that was good!
This gratitude journaling idea has now become a tradition ~ it has been the gift that keeps giving for us both!
Written by Jen
Published October 7, 2023