9 Notable Gratitude Writing Prompts by Bob Jones

Over thirty years ago, motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, challenged me to be a good finder. To become the kind of person who consistently looks for the good in situations and people. It’s easy to see the bad and act like a critic. You have to look a little longer and dig a little deeper to find the good.

 

Mr. Franklin Holmes was a volunteer chaplain working in prisons in Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. He taught a program in those prisons about the importance of looking for the good in every situation. Those men and women took his prompt seriously. They came up with over thirty things they were grateful for about the place where they were incarcerated.

 

Sometimes find good just takes is a little prompting. Notice things you like to do, the people you get to do life with, and the opportunities life presents. Some of the observed good will not only be inspiring but useful as subjects for articles. If any of the following prompts create a path for you, I’ll be grateful.

 

NINE PROMPTS + A BONUS

 

ONE / Write about an act of kindness from another person.

This could be an act of kindness from a good neighbour, friend, co-worker, family member, or even a total stranger. This might be a small thing. Sometimes small things at the right time make the biggest difference.

 

TWO / Write about something that brightens your day when you’re feeling down.

Is there something that lights you up on a bad day? Describe it and write about why or how it makes you feel better.

 

THREE / Describe your favorite time of the day.

What is it and why is it your favorite time? When we focus on small moments, we recognize the importance of each day. Think about the day you are having now. What is special to you?

 

FOUR / List 4 things you are grateful for today.

It doesn’t matter if these are small things. List them. I had a simple, daily gratitude habit. Every morning I arrived on campus at the church I served for 29 years, I thanked God for the opportunity. This prompt started me on a positive note every day.

 

FIVE / Describe your favourite person and list all of that person’s good qualities.

Who is the person? Write about one or more of those qualities.This prompt pushes you to not take people for granted and to appreciate those around you.

 

SIX / Recall a success you had. Write a one paragraph thank you speech describing who helped you achieve the success. 

Identify one person who helped you reach that goal.  What did they do and how did their action contribute to your success? After writing your speech, share it with the person who helped you succeed.

 

SEVEN / Write about your favourite hobby.

What is your hobby? What about it makes it good? How does your hobby make you feel?

 

EIGHT / Write about something you did to make someone happy today.

See the good in what you did today. Describe how what you did made the other person feel. Be thankful that you could reach out and make someone else feel joy.

 

NINE / Write about something good you saw in your church or how your church is a blessing to your community.

Are there volunteers who stand out for their faithfulness and second mile kind of attitude? Is there a program that helps people? Write about the impact it has on you. 

 

BONUS / Write about a pet and what makes or perhaps made the pet special.

The pet could be yours or another person’s. Maybe it’s a pet you see a few times a year on special family occasions. What makes that pet special? How does the pet make you feel?

Are you grateful for writing prompts? Do you have a favourite source for prompts?

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Follow Bob’s writing at REVwords. 

Busy, Blessed, and Grateful by Joylene M Bailey

 

image from Pixabay

A few nights ago, I woke up at 3 a.m. and began thinking about this blog post.

How was my pandemic?

My brain percolated with all the ways God had blessed us through two years of worldwide upheaval. The thoughts came so fast and furiously that I finally got up, crossed the hall to my study, and in the light of a single lamp casting a warm glow into the room, I jotted three pages of blessings.

Three pages! When I counted the bullet points, they added up to 45 blessings.

Don't worry, I won't list them all here. But I will highlight three significant and transformative ones.

Creating Community in Isolation   

As lockdowns were put in place and everybody was isolating, I felt urged to encourage those who may be feeling afraid, lonely, or hopeless. My creativity kicked into gear and before I knew it, I was writing two blog posts a week. I called them my Tea-Time posts, where I welcomed people for virtual tea, treats, and a visit. Not many commented, but according to my stats, I had visits from around the world. If you're interested, here is one of those posts.  

Creativity kicked into gear some more when it became clear that our children and grandchildren, from one and two provinces away, wouldn't be able to come for Christmas 2020 as planned. In my disappointment, my eyes rested on a long-legged snowman that The Cowboy had given me. Suddenly he had a name - Jubal - and a pet reindeer named Reggie. Jubal and Reggie got into many predicaments, and every day for more than a month there was a new Jubal story sent to the grandkids. I had so much fun I almost forgot that our home would be quiet over Christmas. (click here to hear about some of Jubal's predicaments)

God used my creativity to keep me busy and joyful when I could have been down in the dumps. He is so good!

Building a Dream   

Just before Covid hit, plans for the home we'd been dreaming and designing for so long were finally done. The builder was ready to go into the ground. And then ... suddenly people were in isolation, tradesmen opted to take government assistance rather than go to work, supplies became hard to find, and prices for those supplies soared. Our dream seemed dead. 

Until, God directed us to a new builder. His business hadn't slowed down at all, and even better, he understood our vision for the place. It wasn't just a new house for us. It was to be a place of sanctuary for others. "Built for us, with others in mind" is what we always said. Because of skyrocketing prices, we had to give up on our original design and pare down. It was either that or wait until the pandemic was over, but we felt such an urgency to move forward that we were willing to modify the dream. If we hadn't, we'd still be waiting. Instead, possession of our new home is seven weeks away. Our present home goes on the market today.

It's been hard. It's been very busy. But, every step of the way, God guided us through. He has been so good!

A Wedding Window  

We were one of many families trying to plan a wedding during a pandemic. With restrictions fluctuating and businesses trying to cope, a plan made one day would have to be completely changed the next. Nothing was guaranteed. And how do you invite your guests? Do you say you're invited but leave room to be uninvited in case restrictions change ... again. It was all so chaotic, and we felt like we were in limbo most of the time. Then, summer 2021 opened up in Alberta. We jumped on it, planning and executing a wedding in six weeks.

Babe and her fiancée got the date they wanted. An outdoor venue they loved was available and offered a covid flex plan, just in case. The photographer had one day free, and it was their day! A friend volunteered to make the wedding cake and seven dozen cupcakes, unaware that the original wedding cake-maker had fallen through just the day before. The entire six weeks was blessing after blessing.

It was a gorgeous day, enjoyed by friends and family, and blessed with good health for everyone, even weeks later. The very next month, restrictions closed in again. It was almost as though God had made sure restrictions were lifted just for our wedding.  

How good God is!

~~~~~

Yes, there have been hard times over these last two years, both personally and globally. But I choose to count my blessings - 45 so far, and those are just the ones I jotted down in the middle of the night.

God is so good, and I am grateful.

~~~~~

Joy and The Cowboy will live in Edmonton for seven more weeks before moving to their new home in the country, which they've named The Cleft.

Find more of her joy-infused writing at Scraps of Joy.