DIY Blessings Jar and why it's so important!!

DIY Blessings Jar

It's Wednesday night everyone!! Just keep breathing...you're over halfway through the week now! :) Today I decided to talk about something extraordinarily important to the happiness of each and every individual on the planet.  This is something that affects your happiness whether you're rich or poor, young or old.  Something so valuable and yet often times so neglected and forgotten.  The key to happiness is as easy as being able to recognize our blessings.

One of my all time favvvvvorite verses talks about it as simply this...1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks."  One of the reasons I love this verse so much is because it's so crystal clear.  It's not confusing, lengthily worded, or hard to understand.  And the part that I want to focus on right now is the very last phrase (the part you probably already knew I wanted to talk about because I craftily put it in bold!)

In everything give thanks.  Not in some things or in moments when we're in a good mood...no.  In EVERYTHING!  When Starbucks is closed and you can't get your morning coffee...be thankful you can drive down the street to another one!! (trust me, I've lived without them...it could be far worse than an extra five minutes!)  When you don't have enough money to get that 'thing' you'll die without...give thanks that you've had enough money for a warm bed and food on your table.  When you're stuck in traffic on the freeway...give thanks that you have a car and gas to get you where you need to go.  

In everything give thanks.  The thanks that this verse is talking about is meant to be fully and freely GIVEN.  Given meaning without expecting anything in return.  If you say thanks to God for giving you something because you are secretly hoping that you'll receive more for your gratefulness...then you haven't truly given anything.  It'd be like someone giving you a thank you card for that beautiful birthday gift you gave them, and then writing in the card asking when they're going to get their Christmas present.  Don't give thanks in expectation for more...give thanks freely, trusting and knowing that He who gave will continue to give all that you could ever need.

In everything give thanks.  Say THANKS for all the blessings in your life.  According to dictionary.com, the definition of thanks is, "To express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to" (dictionary.com).  We need to express how grateful and appreciative we are by giving thanks and acknowledging the One who has given us everything.  Don't you think He deserves it?  How would you feel if you handed someone a gift and they took it, turned the other direction, and left without saying a word?  I'd be upset.  Pretty darn upset!  Don't turn your back to all the blessings our Father is continually giving us on a daily basis...don't walk away without a THANKS.



And that is why I've made a blessings jar!  Not only do I try to give thanks throughout the day (which I hope to always do more and more) but I also started to write down blessings and put them in a jar!  This way, at the end of the year I will be able to dump out my blessings jar and re-read, or re-THANK, the Lord for all the blessings He's given me.  Because guys, I truly believe He deserves that and more.  And luckily...it's the easiest DIY project ever!! Here's what you do...

DIY Blessings Jar:

All you need is...
1. Jar, cup, container...anything to store notes in!
2. Something pretty/cool you want to put at the bottom of your jar
3. Pretty ribbon or anything cool you want to add on the outside of your jar
4. Some paper that you can cut and a pen to write

Step 1- Fill the jar/container with your cool/pretty things!  I used a mason jar and some pearl beads that I happened to have because I mean come on...pearls=pretty!!

Step 2- Wrap something awesome around the top or outside to add some extra greatness to the look of your blessings jar!  Here I found some lace I wasn't using and it turned out perfectly.

Step 3- Cut some paper into small squares and start writing your blessings!  Here I used some different paper scraps and off I went!! You've just finished one of the easiest and most valuable DIY projects ever!

Simply by sitting here writing this, it's been such a great reminder of all that I have to be thankful for...I am truly truly blessed.  And now it's your turn!  I sincerley hope that this little DIY project will help inspire every single one of you to continually recognize your blessings and 'in everything give thanks.'  I encourage each and every one of you to start opening your eyes to the things around you....find beauty in the ugly, find blessings in the least expected places.  Because I promise you they are there...on your mark, get set, GO!! 

Feel free to share some blessings in your life...I'd love to hear about them :)