Share My Secret

Years ago, I gained a slice of wisdom on how to never leave blessings behind. Allow me to share my secret with you.

First, get a jar and lid

Yes, a jar.

The plainest, most nondescript jar you can find. I use a Mason canning jar. Place the empty jar in a conspicuous place. Maybe on the counter in the kitchen … on a table in the entryway … or on the mantel in the den. But place it where you will see it every day.

Beside the jar, place a pad of paper and pen. Throughout the year when something good happens, make a note of it and put it in the jar. At the end of the year, pour out all the slips of paper and read them. Take time to reflect over each good thing — each blessing — that was written on those slips of paper.

It’s just that easy.

We keep our jar on a table in our entry. I pass it every day and have watched as the stack of papers has grown. Through illnesses and challenges, we fought through to fine something good to put in our jar.

On New Year’s Eve, my husband and I have our yearly tradition. After a dinner of cheeses, meats, and fruits, we pull out our calendars and try to project the upcoming year. We schedule birthdays, anniversaries, and other special holidays we hold dear. We write down any scheduled time of traveling apart as well as time to travel together. Then we open our jar. We smile, laugh, and reminisce about the good times noted on each piece of paper. It’s impossible not to see how blessed we are.

We look forward to this every year.

Every December my husband and I anticipate our Mason Jar evening. We know from past experiences, that we’ll be reminded of goodness that we had forgotten. They’re our, “oh, I remember that!” moments.

It’s Your Turn

How about you? Are you game? There’s still time.

Find your own jar. Place it in a place you will see every day. Leave a notepad and pen beside it and leave notes when something sweet happens. It doesn’t need to be anything earth-shaking, but something that made you smile. Did you make a new friend? Maybe you found a new restaurant and had the best risotto ever. Lew and I took a road trip to a Guy Fieri’s Drive-ins, Diners, and Dives for the best Mile High Meatloaf ever.

Whatever good experiences you have, write them down.

As the year closes I want to share my secret to appreciating what's around me. Here's how I pause for gratitude. Share on X

There’s a reason

This past year has been filled with more turmoil than I ever thought could be shoved into a twelve-month period. Additionally, none of us know what 2025 will bring. That’s why we should never leave blessings behind and forgotten. But we’ve all experienced something good. Sometimes we just need a reminder.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.