Cultivating Daily Gratitude Through Childlike Wonder and Faith
“Jesus said in reply, ‘I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike’” (Matthew 11:25).
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not prevent them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’” (Matthew 19:14).
Outside of my office is a highway: constantly busy, churning and stopping, eight lanes across and more on the access roads. When I see it from the second floor, I can’t help but zoom out and appreciate the lack of a car wreck. There are so many cars and distractions, jam-packed and flying in one direction or the other, filled with lives—with souls. And yet, somehow, we usually make it to our destination, with only thin white lines separating us. Remarkable.
To infuse our daily life with gratitude, let’s look to the youngest among us. When they stop to gaze and behold a ladybug, or gather a leaf on a walk, aren’t they seeing what God has made? When we rush, rush, rush, aren’t we ignoring the miracles of the everyday?
Curiosity sparks wonder. Wonder recognizes miracles. Recognizing miracles creates gratitude. With intentionality, the cycle continues.
Practicing Awe and Wonder
When you start looking for the wonders of life, you start to notice and recognize all the miracles around us. How can you get started? Here are a few ideas:
Nature
Look up—at the clouds, the sunset, the stars above.
Look down—at ancient sand, fresh blades of grass, ladybugs and roly polys and civilizations of ants, mushrooms springing up after a rain.
Look in—and recognize that you are also a miracle, made in God’s image for a divine purpose.
Camera Lens
Breaking out a camera always makes me see the world a little differently. There is suddenly more to see, different angles to be explored, more to cherish and remember.
The Miracle of Each Invention
My husband, who’s an engineer, helps me to see things in a different light. He is constantly explaining how things are made, the way they work, or how they are connected. For me, at least, it’s easy to feel awe at a grand painting. But when we stop and think about it, anything that’s made may have a fascinating story behind it. Now, I can feel the beginning of awe in everything, if only I take the time.
Beauty Uplifts
Sometimes, it’s hard to immediately jump into seeing the beauty of the everyday (looking at you, February!). Try going to an art museum, to a beautiful church, or on a pilgrimage or watching an inspiring movie. Beauty heals the soul in unexpected ways.
Children
Children are magic. If there is a way for you to be with a child, and you are in a good place to be a gift to the child as well, I highly encourage it. They are marvelously funny, whimsical, and spontaneous. Perhaps you could babysit for a loved one or neighbor or volunteer at your church or for another organization. Maybe you could even foster a child and give them a loving home.
When you’re with a child, try to see what they see. Meet them at their level, and look at the world from their vantage point. Play, listen, and be silly.
Matching a Child’s Pace
What if we made the time to live unhurried, able to take the smallest steps and the biggest pauses? Perhaps we could see more miracles. Perhaps we would be a little less competitive.
In our prayer life, we can take the time to wonder at the beauty of the Mass and the miracle of the Eucharist. Unhurried, we can give thanks for things big and small.
The Present: The Best Place to Be
Small children live in the moment. That’s why their emotions are so big, but it also means they experience things fully.
Have you ever felt joy while distracted? True, laughing-out-loud, feeling-seen-and-understood, laughing-until-we-cried joy has never happened while walking our dog, checking email, listening to the news, applying chapstick, and scrolling through Instagram.
It’s too much, y’all!
It can be challenging, when your mind is always busy, to turn everything off, slow down, and be present—but, wow, is it worth it. Experiencing the present is how you make memories.
Here’s a fun challenge: Leave your phone at home, or keep it on airplane mode if you need it in case of an emergency. Turn on bedtime mode if you’re having a hard time. If you use your notes app all the time (like me!), switch to a real mini notebook.
Being in the present is a gift to ourselves and others. Turning off distractions, looking in someone’s eyes, and listening to what they have to say shows them dignity and respect. You’re telling them, “You’re worth it!”
Being more present to people at the office may give your direct reports the confidence to share their ideas or ambitions. Being present with your family may bring more trust and joy into your relationships.
Cultivating a Childlike Faith
A few days ago, my one-year-old daughter crawled up the steps of a 10-foot slide. She saw it. She did it. And, every step of the way, her father was right there behind her, hands hovering and ready should she misstep. Her mother was cheering her on.
What would we do if we knew the Father was there to catch us? That Mary and all the saints in Heaven were cheering us on?
Dreaming Big, Praying Big
Have you ever held back in prayer? Maybe you only ask God for small things, maybe only things you won’t be disappointed by or things at least partly in your control.
Children aren’t afraid to dream big, imagine big, and hope big. Let’s follow their lead and pray big, with trust and hope.
Giving Thanks
Once you can recognize the miracles around you, gratitude will naturally follow. You can also try some tried and true methods:
Giving thanks before each meal.
Counting your blessings at the end of the day.
Keeping a gratitude journal and adding a certain number of things you’re grateful for each day.
Creating art to capture something you’re grateful for.
Sending someone a card to express your thanks.
For more ideas on dialing into your faith through the senses, read “Experiential Faith (Taste, See, Hear and Touch),” by Lilia Grundy. You can also check out this prayer for childlike faith from Catholic Daily Reflections. I wish you well on your engaging and inspiring journey. Life is truly an adventure!
Savanna Polasek is a nonprofit communications specialist, freelance writer, and creator of Memoir Ink. She is a Catholic convert and lives with her charming husband and daughter in Austin, Texas. In her free time she enjoys exploring Texas, listening to Catholic podcasts, reading, and writing fiction. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.