The Gratitude Jar

The Gratitude Jar or Answered Prayers Jar is a wonderful visual reminder of all the things we are grateful for. It is an easy way to cultivate an attitude for gratitude for the whole home. At the beginning of year year we make our gratitude jar and start with "being grateful for another year together." Throughout the year we add things we are grateful for, acts of kindness, answered prayers, moments that were special, anything that reminds us of how fortunate we are. Throughout the year, especially when the the everyday bs creeps up, I like to curl up with a glass of wine and read through the jar. It is amazing how much we forget, or how something so small today was so meaningful at one point. One of my favorite things about the answered prayers jar is the reminder of how God has come through for our family when it felt like we were living on a prayer. 

Making your jar around New Years Eve should be a family project, I like to take all the pieces of paper out and read them as a family. I usually put them in a bag and attach them to the family photo album for that year. For New Years Eve, have all your family members write your new years resolution and date the paper. Great reflection for the end of the year and a constant reminder that you have things to work toward. 

Making your jar is simple, here is how I made mine. 

Attach a tag that says something special about the jar. We have two jars answered prayers, which is gratitude directed at God and we have gratitude jar, which the kids can put anything in  during the year. Something we even use it when the kids aren't feeling very gracious, they reach in and pull out a couple things to be grateful for. 

For the gratitude jar I have attached a few slips of scratch paper so the kids never have an excuse, everything they need is right there. I use a paper clip and twine to attach the paper. 

Every year we traditionally spend New Years Eve with a small but close group of dear friends. One year I brought a gratitude jar filled with goodies for each family in hopes they would share in this family tradition of gratitude and value sharing. If you have a holiday party or a indeed of a hostess gift, maybe consider bringing a gratitude jar.