The season of thankfulness/gratitude is upon us. While we have decorated for Christmas at Keystone Kids, we certainly are not skipping the important month of November and the reminder to slow down and sit in gratitude. 

Did you know?

Gratitude has many benefits for both our mental and physical health.

Gratitude has been shown to have a profound positive impact on mental health. Studies show that practicing thankfulness can lead to lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. A study from the University of California, Davis, found that people who regularly practice gratitude experience fewer aches and pains and generally feel healthier than others. The act of being thankful can additionally improve sleep quality, as focusing on positive thoughts before bed can lead to a more restful night's sleep. Living life through a lens of appreciation can even help people reduce their use of and reliance on alcohol and drugs.

A study from the University of Georgia found that gratitude plays a significant role in relationship satisfaction. Although the study focuses on marriages, it’s easy to see how thankfulness can fortify all relationships, romantic and otherwise. When you express thankfulness, it fosters a sense of mutual respect and understanding, strengthening the bond between you and the people around you, from acquaintances to friends and family.

Being able to show and express and focus on gratitude can literally change our whole life. How can your family create a rhythm of gratitude during this season? We have some ideas for you below!

GRATITUDE IDEAS!

Here are a few ideas to create rhythms of gratitude in your home during this holiday season (and hopefully permanently; see above for some of the benefits of showing gratitude).

1. Create a Thankfulness Chain!

This is a quick and easy one that you can continue adding to all season long!! Make it a fun challenge to see how long you can make the chain before Christmas! (See here for how to)

2. Gratitude Game: Pick-up Sticks!

A fun, easy, way to engage your kids/family. Play after dinner together or really anytime! (See here for how to)

3. Gratitude Tree!

Feeling a bit crafty? Create this gratitude tree in your home to give a visual for your kids to see their gratitude. (See here for how to)

4. Gratitude Journal!

Here is a made-for-you gratitude journal. Simple and easy to use and gets kids into the Word! (See here to download)

5. Praise Party!

A super simple way to create gratitude in your home is by worshipping. Gather your family together, turn on some worship music, and dance/praise the Lord together. (Here's a playlist to get you started)

There are a TON of ways to create some rhythms of gratitude in your home. No need to over-complicate it. Just think simple and consistent.

Here's a summary of what we'll be learning:

Long before Saul was appointed Israel’s first king, God gave Moses specific instructions for kings. God was the true King, yet He knew His people would become discontent without a human on the throne. In grace, God prepared them for that future day. Israel’s king was to “write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law” and “read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God” (Deuteronomy 17:18–19, NIV).

A few kings did as God commanded. God called King David “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22, NIV), and King Josiah, when hearing God’s Word for the first time, was so distressed at his nation’s dis- obedience that he tore his clothes in anguish. Still, many others did not revere God. Saul started well but let pride get the better of him. And Ahab and Jehoiakim were downright evil, violently opposing God and His prophets.

But God did not give up on His people. Over and over, He showed mercy, drawing near to Israel and calling them back to Himself.

What an important truth for each one of us! When we are doing well and feel close to God, He wants to be near to us. And when we are spread thin, our pride creating illusions of self-sufficiency, God still wants to be near us.

As you prepare for this series, read through the stories of kings and prophets. Where do you see God drawing near to Saul, David, Sol- omon, Elijah, Josiah, and Jeremiah? Where do you see God’s sover- eignty? Where do you see His mercy?

God longs to draw near to you. Where is He meeting you in your circumstances today?

Our yearly Family Christmas Party is coming up!

Join us December 2nd, 3:30pm-5:30pm for fun (free) family Christmas activities. We will have all the fun things: cookie decorating, mini petting zoo, hot cocoa, treats, and MORE! 

Our hope for this event is for our families to connect and get to know one another. It's also a really great and easy event to invite your neighbors to. Following this event we will go downtown for the Saline Christmas Parade for anyone wanting to join.

We hope to see you there! If you're interested in volunteering and helping setting up this event, we'd love to have your help. You can sign up using the link below!

On Christmas Eve, all of our kids will be invited to join us on stage to sing our Christmas Medley. Above is a video I created so they can practice singing and doing the motions to our song. We will practice each Sunday until Christmas Eve but wanted to be sure kids had access to the motions even at home. We are so excited to celebrate the birth of our Savior with all of you!