Comments on: How I Keep a Gratitude Journal

By: Just Julie

Just Julie — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 23:01:27 +0000

In reply to Nancy. I think your outlook is beautiful Nancy. I too, have seen God's hand in hindsight, and have been grateful for a changed perspective through gratitude. God bless you today... xoxo

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 22:37:59 +0000

I love the idea of # the items in a gratitude journal. I’ve been keeping a regular journal for some time and when I re-read it once in a while I realize how thankful I am to God for the different twists and turns in my life. Seen in hindsight you can see God’s hand which I may not have seen at the time. I thank God for the twists and turns in my life that lead me to my husband and beyond.

By: Just Julie

Just Julie — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:08:35 +0000

In reply to Tauni. Oh Tauni -- your comments blessed me so much. Such memories we have. And your name is in my journal more than just that one time in the photo. Your beautiful life is woven into the fabric of mine. Love you, dearest friend. xoxo

By: Tauni

Tauni — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 17:51:45 +0000

My dear friend, thank you for doing this post! As you are well aware, I have had some very dark times in my life. I went through a period of about 10 years where I felt that mostly bad happened and couldn’t find much good. “Counting my blessings” is what brought me through it and in the process drew me to God like nothing else, especially in the darkest moments of my life. I was fearful every morning as I made my way out of my bed wondering, “What is going to happen today.” After some time (can’t say how long now, it has been over 30 years now) I was so depressed I could barely get out of bed and function. I drove up and down a mountain daily to and from work and often thought that all I had to do was turn the car toward the edge of the cliff and it would be all over. Then I would think of my kids . . . and make the wiser choice. To this day, my children have no idea how often they saved my life. There finally came a day where I decided I had to find a way to get out of the depression and learn to “live” in the midst of what I was going through at any given time. God prompted me to “literally” count my blessings. While I did not journal about it, every night as I laid my head down I would go through the entire day and count the blessings I had received that day. At first it was hard as I saw only the negative, but I purposed in my heart to find at least 5 things every night. I had to look deep ~ though not really ~ and it was as small as a smile from someone at work, a good morning from the security guard in my office building, someone granting me space to change lanes on the freeway, etc. What eventually happened is that my sensitivity to the good things from God was heightened and I eventually found it all around me ~ mind you, it had always been there, but now I saw and felt it. To this day, this is a practice I maintain over 30 years later, even in my present beautiful life, I still thank Him for specific things every night. I often fall asleep before I get through my list each night :). I have thought about journaling, but have just not done it yet.

Then this post ~ seeing entry 5245 . . . You and I have always expressed gratitude to God for our life-long friendship, the growth and depth of it, but “seeing” that entry in your journal . . .

I will begin journaling today ~ and this blog post will be my first entry ~ thank you for sharing your heart . . .

By: Just Julie

Just Julie — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 15:07:03 +0000

In reply to Kay in U.K.. Thank you dear Kay. Praying for you and Alan today... I have thanked God for you both many times. xoxo

By: Kay in U.K.

Kay in U.K. — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:22:49 +0000

Dear Julie, I have kept a gratitude journal, but like you I often felt
guilty if I didn’t write in it every day. But your post today has blessed me – there’s an entry for both of our journals. 🙂
I haven’t numbered my entries in the past but I intend to do so from today.
Thank you dear friend
xx