As we enter this season of Thanksgiving and giving, like so many of you I have been reflecting on all that I have to be grateful for. This past year has come with its fair share of difficulties and uncertainties for my family and me. Between some medical and physical challenges, the challenges and concerns many families faces, and the normal chaos of raising a rather large household, there have been moments when I felt stretched thin. Yet, even in the midst of everything, I am frequently reminded that I have so much to be grateful for: my hardworking and dedicated husband, our children, the recent birth of our sixth child, our home, a job that fits the rhythm of life as a busy homeschooling mom, a warm home and a roof over our head, and even the simple gift of the breath in my lungs.
Life is always a blend of big things and small things. If we’re honest, it’s often the small things that are easiest to overlook—the quiet blessings, the everyday graces, the moments that come and go so quickly we hardly notice them. Yet, these “little things” are often the very things that anchor us, sustain us, and shape the landscape of our healing. We just have to be willing to open our eyes to them and acknowledge them.
Practicing Gratitude
This time of year feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on one of the most powerful tools we have on the healing journey: gratitude.
We hear so much about “practicing gratitude” and how it benefits our emotional, spiritual, and even physical well-being. But you may find yourself wondering:
What does that actually mean? How do I practice gratitude when life feels heavy? How do I cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving when my heart feels anything but thankful?
These are real questions especially for those of us who carry wounds, grief, or the lingering weight of past trauma. Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It isn’t about forcing a smile or denying the hard parts of life. Instead, it’s about gently opening our eyes to the good that exists alongside the difficult. It’s about noticing God’s presence in places we may have stopped looking. It’s about reclaiming hope, even if it means taking. one small moment at a time.
These are real, honest questions especially for those of us who carry trauma, grief, or deep wounds. Life can be overwhelming, and in seasons of pain it can feel like there is very little to be grateful for. That’s precisely why gratitude matters so much.
Why Gratitude Matters in Healing
Gratitude is not pretending everything is fine. It’s not forcing yourself to smile through trauma, and it’s certainly not denying the pain you’ve lived or the injustice you’ve endured.
Gratitude is something gentle and transformative.
It is the intentional choice to notice even the smallest gifts (so call them glimmers of grace) right in the middle of the struggle. These little acknowledgments begin to change the lens through which we see our lives. They soften our hearts, help us breathe again, and remind us that God has not abandoned us. Truly, goodness still exists even when darkness tries to convince us otherwise.
Practicing gratitude changes us from the inside out. It nurtures emotional resilience, supports our physical wellbeing, and strengthens us spiritually. Over time, gratitude deepens our joy, our peace, our hope, and even our faith.
What Does It Mean to Practice Gratitude?
To practice gratitude is to cultivate a heart that acknowledges God’s presence. It doesn’t mean you feel thankful every moment. It means you turn your attention—even briefly—to the blessings, consolations, and graces that might otherwise go unnoticed.
A grateful person isn’t someone who has an easy life. It’s someone who chooses to recognize the gifts that also exist with the hardships.
When gratitude becomes a habit, it reshapes our interior world. We become more grounded, more trusting, and more receptive to grace.
Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude
If you’re not sure where to begin, start small. Healing almost always begins with small steps.
Here are a few simple, realistic ways to grow in gratitude:
• Name one thing each day. Choose just one thing for which you are thankful. It could be as simple as a warm cup of coffee or a moment of peace.
• Keep a gratitude journal. Write down small blessings you notice each day or throughout the week.
• Thank God intentionally. Even a short, whispered “thank You, God” in the middle of a difficult day can be powerful.
• Tell someone you appreciate them. Our gratitude increases when we express it. The more often the better!
• Reflect on the saints. Their lives show us that gratitude is possible even in suffering. They saw God’s hand in everything.
A Reminder
Gratitude is not a magic pill. Nothing is. Nothing will completely erase your wounds or instantly dissolve the difficulties in your life. However, gratitude does have the power to gently and gradually transform you.
Practicing gratitude is about allowing God to enter the places where despair tries to take root. It’s about recognizing His gifts, His grace, His presence in our lives even when the evil one whispers lies to us that we are alone, forgotten, or abandoned.
You are not alone, and even now there is surely something (some small glimmer of grace) to be grateful for.
As we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, may gratitude become not just something we practice, but something that strengthens and heals us. May our hearts be filled with the peace and hope that only God can give.
May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
