The Grumble Box

         
​                                              “I’m Telling!”

                                              “I’m Bored!”

                                          “I don’t want to!”

                                                 “MOM!”

Multiply these complaints, and numerous others, by four small people and even the most patient of mothers is left scratching her head in wonder, 

                  “How do I change the atmosphere in my home?”

As a creative thinker, when my children were young, I converted an old shoe box; I decorated it, I cut a depository slit in the top, I placed it on our kitchen counter and I dubbed it - The Grumble Box. I then declared to my littles, 

             “For every negative, you will deposit two positives!”

For the ones who could not yet write or not yet write well, I required they create a nice drawing for their deposit. Deposits consisted of quotes, apologies, scripture, works of art, statements of gratitude. 

The intent of the exercise was to nurture, in my moody brood's mindsets, a more grateful perspective, a more joyful outlook, a more contented attitude. My heart, as a mother, was to help my babies  learn to appreciate their family, their home and their lives and, too, to empower them to create an internal shift and consequently an external one in making different choices for themselves and effecting the atmosphere around them. 

Life is gloriously messy; there is no glory without mess - that’s the deal! Like it or not this is the human journey this side of heaven. Which bodes the question, how do we navigate the glory without becoming overwhelmed by the mess?

I believe one source available to us is our perspective; through exhibiting a grateful heart attitude for what is not only glorious but also through the developing of a more creative outlook when we encounter the mess.

Due to current challenges as well as listening to the overwhelmed-by-the-mess hearts of others, I initiated a Gratitude Club. The club serves to encourage, to share and to lend a sense of accountability in order to help in staying the course when the messy appears to outshine the glory. 

The concept is similar to that of The Grumble Box. Each day, a deposit is made expressing gratitude for the gifts in life. If the heart and mind contend with this exercise, allow the grateful and wise words of others to guide. Write down a quote, a scripture or a meditation and deposit this into The Gratitude Jar. I placed my jar on my kitchen counter as a gentle reminder.

Just as the body requires the discipline of exercise, proper diet and sleep, so the soul needs nurturing, a discipline to help it develop and maintain a healthy way of living. 

Life is good - in a gloriously messy sort of way. So, let's be thankful for this day.

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