Are you thinking: what should I do for Mother’s Day? It’s tomorrow! Will you find flowers? Can you get a card? “Amazon, will you deliver a gift in time?” What if you could give Mom a FANTASTIC gift without leaving the house, and at the same time learn a really valuable tool for changing your perspective? What?! You’re in!!??
Let’s do this…
Ok, first, let’s think about all the things that Mom does every day? Do you think you could list five things? Ten? Twenty?! Let’s see how many we can list. Let’s be like detectives. Here’s what you need…
Grab a notebook
Find your favorite pen or pencil
Start looking
Detectives are methodical and very detailed oriented. Trust me, I know: I read a lot of mystery books and watch a lot of crime tv shows. “Methodical” is a word that means systematic, or doing your investigation in a careful and thoughtful way. “Detail-oriented” means that you see a little bit of everything, noticing the tiniest details. So let’s explore your house, room-by-room.
Start in the kitchen. Look up and down and think about all the things that Mom does in the kitchen each day. Does she make you food? Does she clean the dishes? What else can you think of? Be specific! What does she do just for you? Has she ever made you something special just because she knows you would like it? Write everything down in your notebook.
Next let’s go to your bedroom. What do you see in here that Mom does for you? What is something that Mom gave you that’s in your room? Maybe it’s a favorite toy she gave you on your birthday. Does she make sure you bed is cozy and clean? Does she ever pick up your toys when you are sleeping? Does she help when you are frustrated with your homework?
Now it’s your turn…
Pick the next room and keep on searching! Look for things that remind you of Mom and the ways that she helps you, loves you, or cares for you. Be a detective! You’ve got the process now. You are very smart!
OK, are you done investigating your whole house? Did you write everything down? Good! How many things are on your list? How does your list make you feel about Mom? What do you notice? Do you feel grateful? Do you want to shout, “thanks Mom”? Now write that down in your notebook, too!
Take this page in your notebook and turn it into a card for your Mom. You can also write a special note all about how you feel and what you noticed around your house. I am absolutely certain it will be the best mother’s day gift. Knowing that you took the time to appreciate her, and to make her something that only you can make. She will just love it.
It is easy to focus on ourselves…
It’s easy to get caught up in what we don’t have or how hard things are: how much we miss our friends, toys we wish we had, games or shows we wish we could enjoy, and how much we just want to go back to the playground! These feelings are all so true.
How can we have a happy heart or change our attitude when it all feels so BLEH!? It is a well-researched fact that gratitude can actually change your brain. But did you know before it was even researched by very smart doctors… it was written in the Bible? Take a look at the end of the Book of Colossians. Paul tells us to “let the peace of Jesus rule our heart” and then he tells us how to do that.
“Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful. Let the message about Christ live among you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct one another wisely. Teach one another by singing psalms and hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing to God with thanks in your hearts. Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the Father through Christ.” —Colossians 3
Give thanks…
Think about your life. Find the things that you are really thankful for. Then…. you can go tell God about it, your friends, your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother, your grandparents. You can even tell me or someone else from church, your neighbor, your classmate, or your teacher. Tell someone! It will change your brain and your heart. Ultimately it will change your mood.
You can start this important practice today and give Mom a really really thoughtful gift. One more thought to share:
“Our troubles are small. They last only for a short time. But they are earning for us a glory that will last forever. It is greater than all our troubles. So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. That’s because what can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last forever.” —2 Corinthians 4
We can feel this verse to be true when we are grateful, especially when we are grateful for what God has done, is dong and will do, and for he people in our lives that love us. I love you friends!! I hope you have a really sweet Mother’s Day!
Love,
Miss Elisa
