Monday, January 4, 2016

My Grateful Jar: Take 2...er...3

Okay, I'm going to try this again.
You may remember this post from last year.


I was so proud of my sweet little Grateful Jar sitting on my kitchen counter.
After I hit that little rough patch in the beginning (you'll need to read the first post to get it)
I was doing better for a little while.....again.

Then I got really behind.
So I took about a week's worth of papers at a time and retraced my steps of the previous week.

I did that a couple of times, actually.
Okay, more than a couple.

Then those moments became fewer and farther between.
I even went so far as to just write something like "I'm grateful for Your love"
on a whole bunch of them at once to get caught up since the days had run all together.

The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months and before I knew it,
I was just too far behind to try to catch up, although I thought about it a lot.
Wow...it hurts to even admit that...let alone blog about it.

The amount of time it would take for me to add a little note to the jar was minuscule.
It was sitting right there on my counter top near the coffee pot.
It's not like it was out of sight, out of mind or anything...
...or like I had to make much of an effort...at all.

******************************** 
ungrateful
[uhn-greyt-fuhl]

adjective

1. unappreciative; not displaying gratitude;
not giving due return or recompense for benefits conferred:
ungrateful heirs.

2. unpleasant; distasteful; repellent:
an ungrateful task.

********************************
Am I a dissatisfied, thankless person that doesn't have anything to be grateful for?
No...not by any means!
Doesn't the Lord always give me something to be grateful for...every single day?
Yes...He absolutely does!
Then why wasn't I able to accomplish this very simple task?
Discipline...or the lack thereof.

Discipline.

The same thing I don't have when I fail to keep up with my healthy eating plan...
...the same thing I don't have at the start of every new year when I vow to start exercising...
...the same thing I don't have when I should be vacuuming but choose to work on a project instead...
...the same thing I don't have when I turn on the TV...or open my laptop...
...instead of opening my Bible.

Just being real here, folks....
...I don't mean to be a Debby Downer (pun intended).

Discipline.

I need it like I need oxygen.
I crave it like I crave chocolate or pizza love...peace...acceptance.
I desire it like nothing else...because I know that as a daughter of the King I should have it.
But I fail at it so much of the time... miserably.
Only Jesus can help me.

So that is my word for 2016...discipline.
I've never done the word-for-the-year thing before...
...and I don't really think that declaring that I have one will necessarily make me do better.
What I do know is that it will take spending more time in God's word...and a lot of prayer.

I'll let you know next year how it's working for me.


So today, I removed all of the little pieces of paper from my jar and started fresh.


For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, 
but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11


I'm only four days behind :)


35 comments:

  1. Hope this project is fun and fulfilling for you.I have considered doing something like that but am pretty sure I would not finish it.I guess that's a poor excuse.Looking forward to seeing how this will enrich your life.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm gonna take mine out and read them and start over too. That's what a new year is all about, new beginnings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. At least you are giving it a go - don't let it beat you. After all, it's just a matter of picking up a pencil and scribbling on paper, lol. Seriously, I think it is a wonderful idea and doubt whether I would get to the end of the year!! It's too easy to get distracted.

    Diana

    ReplyDelete
  4. If it blesses you... All the best!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know all about lack of discipline. Maybe we could co-author a book about it. :) I'm the world's biggest procrastinator, too. Not a good combo. I'm going to try to do better this year. I really am! Best wishes to you as you fill that jar! Take care, Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  6. May you find more reasons to be grateful this year.
    Happy 2016!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Oh...I have plenty to be grateful for...always :)

      Delete
  7. Discipline is probably a struggle for most of us! I'll just say that it is for me, anyway! Always striving against that human nature. Oh, to walk with Him more closely and then the "good" things would follow!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Debby, cute post. Just waking up every day is something to be grateful for.
    Discipline is something I need to work on, I always say I am going to walk more. I wish you all the best in 2016 and good luck with your goal. Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have a similar jar and it is empty. But I am not going to lament...as I build the habit, it will be part of my daily routine....I need to add some paper and a pen to get me going...good luck with your jar.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy New Year, Debby! This sounds like a wonderful thing to do. We do have so much to be grateful for. Discipline,that's a doozy for me! ;) Thanks for popping in and here's to another year of blogging with you.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. That "discipline" thing is the key to most of life, isn't it? I love your little jar and the colored notes. I love this idea and everything about it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello, I love your header on your blog and your jar of blessings is a great idea, but as you say it does take extra effort to even write our blessings out! I also enjoyed the Looking Babl post it had some great photos, it is like a living scrapebook! How is your son? I have been not feeling well and I am behind and commenting takes words and brain power! LOL
    Hugs, and HAPPY NEW YEAR
    Roxy

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the discipline! Idea! Boy! I know I really need help in that area!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is a great post and inspiring word (discipline) Debby. I don't choose a 'word of the year' nor do I do a grateful jar or journal. I should. I certainly not ungrateful. I just don't discipline myself to write it down. Does thinking it count? I'm sure it does. And God knows our every thought. :) Blessings to you and I hope you have a very full jar on December 31st.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We all need to read this and probably could write it. But don't be too hard on yourself. The big thing is to get up and go again, not give up. I do like your colorful paper. I wonder how well I'd do that challenge if it was right there to remind me each day. I might be tempted to say "later today" or "tomorrow morning first thing" etc. We tell ourselves lots of things! So after showing the foot photo to my hubby I'm getting ads for the s.o.x. weird!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my...that sock thing is weird! This whole thing is more like a test for me do what I say I'm going to do :)

      Delete
  16. Sounds like you're getting ahead, to me. That colorful little stack of Post-It Notes is motivational! Now if the pen will stay put...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's no doubt and never was that I am grateful for many things...it's more of an exercise in discipline to see if I can stick with something I've committed to. It's not an easy for me.

      Delete
  17. You can even be thankful for the pretty colored paper you have to write on. : )
    I don't have a jar but I am thankful for many things during the day. I just say a little prayer and thank God. : )

    ReplyDelete
  18. This made me smile, Debby! I love the thought of a Grateful Jar and I think I would have to have great discipline to even get them written down. Haha!
    I wish you luck and discipline for the New Year! :)
    Enjoy your week!
    Hugs, Amy

    ReplyDelete
  19. I didn't see that last sentence coming. Cracked me up!

    Self-discipline is a challenge for most of us, I think. We're good at it in some areas of our life and not so good at it in others. The only way to improve is to practice.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh Debby, I know just how that feels. Getting behind and then feeling like I've failed. I suspect it's a very common thing. We all need discipline in our lives, and we all need the Spirit of God in our lives to help us toward love, joy, peace. Keep us posted on your grateful jar. I love this post.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a great idea Debby! And, Discipline is a great word! Mine is Tangible and it does help to keep me remembering what my goals are this year. Of course, it's only the 6th day in, so.....I, too, need discipline :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tangible is good word too...and there is comfort knowing that I'm not alone in my need for discipline :)

      Delete
  22. i know in january i'd start out strong but then by december probably hadn't added anything but one here and there ha! happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Well if anybody needs a grateful jar, it's me. I manage to find something to complain about every morning, when I need to be grateful for just waking up! I love the idea and your Grateful Jar is pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Debby! I love your honesty here. I tried the Gratitude jar too. Hopelessly behind, so I gave up on it.
    I know I have more discipline about other things, so why not this? Should I try again? Hmm...you got me thinking. Maybe I should. At the end of the year, imagine the joy of reading over all the ways God has come to us!
    (I crave pizza and chocolate too. And...coffee!!)
    Blessings,
    Ceil

    ReplyDelete
  25. You crack me up Debby Ray! I love your honesty too my friend. I bought myself a planner this year and it has a place for gratitude. Only 3 a week, I think I can handle that. I struggle with many of the same things you do...but I'm determined to never give up. I look forward to following you along this year and hopefully a visit :) Happy New Year my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sometimes we just get bogged down by daily life and forget that we have much to be grateful for. This is a good way to keep track of it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love the idea of writing things that I am grateful for and sticking it in a jar...afraid I would lack discipline too.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Debby, That jar is adorable. For a few years I did something similar, but for my children. I had a jar and in the drawer below it, small slips of paper and pens. Each day, for each sibling, they were to write something they were thankful for. It helped their constant complaining and at least for that moment each day, put their minds in the right place! I haven't done it in a while but it worked so well!
    Discipline is a great word - not an easy one - but a great one! I will pray God uses that word BIG for you :-)
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by today! Your sweet comments are such an encouragement to me.