Tail Wagging Welcome

by | Jul 31, 2023 | self-examination

SELF EXAMINATION  (Day 2 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Years ago I witnessed the sweetest scene. A friend of mine was going into the house to gather some items (we were having an outdoor barbecue) and as she turned to go, a young boy shyly asked if he could go too. She smiled and said, “Of course!” in a tone of voice that said “Of course, you are wanted.” The kid’s face lit up and he ran alongside her like a happy puppy (if he’d a tail it would have been wagging like crazy).

happy tail wagging puppy

Now, honestly, if he had asked me I would have made some excuse and left him where he stood.

I saw that day how unwelcoming I had become. I had learned to do everything myself and I never thought to include folks. It was a wake-up call for me.

So now I look for opportunities to include people. I’m not a natural at it, but, hey, I can learn and practice.

How about you? How are you doing with your invitation skills?

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credit © Joe Caione / Unsplash
We’re Donation Supported

Invitation

by | Jul 30, 2023 | concept

CONCEPT  (Day 1 of 7)

I was watching a series by Bob Goff and he mentioned that Jesus was “adjacent.” By that he meant Jesus did life with people. He spent time with them. He invited them to follow him. He even invited Himself to dinner at someone else’s house. 🙂

I’ve been thinking about the concept of invitation.

an invitation

How sweet it is to be invited, to be included and wanted.

Spend the day talking to God about being invited. Look at how He handled it when he walked the earth. Think about those times when you have been invited or invited others.


Just wanted to share my “God sunflower.”

God sunflower

All the sunflowers I planted face the driveway, except this lone flower that sits facing my morning coffee spot. God loves me. 🙂

God sunflower

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – invitation © Karen Roach / Adobe Stock, sunflowers © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
We’re Donation Supported

The Grateful Habit

by | Jul 29, 2023 | conclusions

CONCLUSIONS  (Day 7 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

As I looked through scripture I saw dozens of verses that spoke to gratitude and thankfulness. It’s pretty important, I’m thinking.

My biggest effort is in creating a habit of gratitude instead of whining or at least stop mid-whine and turn it around to gratefulness. (Yes, I have to drag the garden hose around a bit, but, you know, we have amazing well water and plenty of it. I’m grateful for all the water I need.)

sticky note on daily planner

I have an “ask for wisdom” sticky note on my daily planner. I think I need a “be grateful” sticky too. 🙂


Tilly was spayed a few weeks ago and now she is an inside/outside cat. She is loving it. The bugs are in serious danger. Not so much the birds.

Tilly

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – wisdom sticky note & Tilly © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
We’re Donation Supported

Grateful Nudge

by | Jul 28, 2023 | resources

RESOURCES  (Day 6 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

The Psalms are pretty cool. They’re full of praise and gratitude to God. Even when there’s a bit of crying and whining, they always end with praising God.

I mentioned creating a gratitude journal. Any ol’ notebook will do. If you’re more digital, create a file.

wife texting gratitude

If you’re particularly challenged in this area, buddy up to your spouse or a good friend and challenge each other to text back and forth what you’re grateful for each day.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credit © Pexels from Pixabay
We’re Donation Supported

More Gratitude

by | Jul 27, 2023 | second try

SECOND TRY  (Day 5 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Let’s take another day to practice speaking and showing gratitude.

Look for those opportunities to say thank you. Perhaps say more and explain how much you appreciate them or what they do.

plant with thank you note

Consider love languages when you say thank you. Small gifts are a great way of showing appreciation. Inviting someone for coffee (or whatever) is another good way to say thanks.

Get a little creative and show some gratitude.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credit © Adrian / Pixabay
We’re Donation Supported

Not Grateful?

by | Jul 26, 2023 | road blocks

ROADBLOCKS  (Day 4 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Unforgiveness makes us grumpy and bitter. It’s hard to be grateful when you’re angry about something. Time to hang with God and work through the difficult issue.

Sometimes envy is an issue. You want what you don’t have, so it’s hard to be grateful for what you do have. Talk to God about what He has provided and ask him to help you learn to be content.

Mostly, though, I think gratitude is just about building the habit. There is really so much that is good about life, so much to be grateful for.

gratitude journal

Years ago, I made a spot in my bullet journal to list one thing each day that I was grateful for. Another time it was three items each day in a personal journal. (I think gratitude journals make great gifts too! One Christmas I made gratitude journals for stocking stuffers. Small Dollar Tree calendar books have just enough room to write a little something each day. A “Gratitude Journal” sticker on the front makes it pretty.)

What stalls out gratitude in your life? What would help you nudge your gratitude skills up a notch?

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credit © Natalie Board / Adobe Stock
We’re Donation Supported