blessing box

Ever since I can remember my family has made an annual blessing box. At some point during the time that we lived in Columbia, while my dad was working on his PhD, my mom read an article in Guideposts magazine about a family that suffered a continuous series of misfortunes. When Thanksgiving season rolled around their mother's response was to create a blessing box that they could put thankful notes into every day to remember the good things they still had in life. This, in turn, inspired my mother and she has done one nearly every year since.

This tradition started while I was too young to write so Mom had me dictate my blessings to her every day so I could still contribute. In consequent years, as I learned to write, it was a good daily exercise for me. We were encouraged to write anything and everything that we were thankful for every day. This could include good Bible verses or inspiring quotes. At times she had to cut us off and set a daily limit when we got a little too exuberant about just listing things lying around the house.

Mom made these boxes every year out of cardboard or plastic containers decorated with contact paper. They were created around November 1st and then opened up on Thanksgiving day, when we would take turns pulling out blessings and reading them out loud. Some of them inspired laughter, some fond smiles, and some tears. All in all it was a good exercise in teaching us to notice our daily blessings and tighten the family bond.

This is the first year that I decided to start this family tradition in our home. For now our blessing box is made from a yogurt container and scrapbook paper. But I like the idea of making or investing in a nice wooden box that we can bring out year after year. Some people make decorative blessing trees or garlands so the blessings are displayed prominently all month.


Margaret is in the dictating stage. We're still practicing on getting some variation and creativity every day and thinking of things to be thankful for besides milk and her new brown tights. But she's already getting into the spirit of things and is excited to write her blessings down every day.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! -Philippians 4:4

No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father. - Colossians 3:17