When my kids were really little, I attended a MOPS program. I actually attended one in NC when I lived there, and joined one in Ft. Lauderdale, when we moved there. At one of the meetings, we made meal blessing jars and I absolutely LOVED ours. When my kids were old enough and were actually eating up at the table with us (and could talk), we started using it. They loved it and so did I! One of them would pull a blessing out of the jar and whatever it was, we had to say (or sing!) it. We used it for years. I still have it (they are now 12 and 14) and as you can see, it is quite loved :) Most of the stickers have fallen off and almost all of the blessings are ripped or peeling...it was used a lot :)
I decided that since it meant so much to my family, I wanted to make one that the families in my church could use and that other Christian educators could use - in person or via mail/email. I loved the blessings that my jar had, but my MOPS group didn't include any Scripture - so I've added some new ones that include some verses of thanksgiving. This would be a great tradition to start now around Thanksgiving - but continue it year round!
If you're a parent reading this and want to do it, you can go on google and find/make your own blessing printouts, or just go to these links on Etsy or TPT, (it costs $1.25), download it, print it out, and there ya go! (and maybe share it with the Christian Educator at your church!)
If you're an educator and would like your families to make one, simply go to the link above and purchase it, print out enough copies for all your families and you can either do it together at church or send the supplies home for them to do as a family activity. Most people have jars and glue or tape at home - but they would need the blessings and popsicle sticks mailed to them.
My children enjoyed decorating the jar and sticks, so sending along some stickers would be a good idea!
Here is the activity...while you're making it, read one of the Scriptures I've provided and ask a few questions (included in the download). Make it a devotional time!
First, decide if you want to make long sticks or short ones - depending on the size of your jar. I have provided two options to print out. The longer sticks look nice in a tall jar, but if all you have is a short jar, the shorter ones look better (and fit better). Print out your blessings on different colored cardstock and cut them out (if you have fun scissors, you could make different style cuts). Glue them on to your popsicle sticks. (FYI, the sticks are the same lengths...it's the blessings that are different sizes).
Once you have your sticks, you can decorate both your jar and the blessings. You can even change the look of your jar with each season. Since it's fall - I went with a fall look :)
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| short jar with shorter printout - I believe this is a large baby food jar (?) |
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| mason jar with longer printout |
Right before your mealtime, pull one out and whatever it is - you HAVE to do it! Even if you feel silly ;) lol After a few months, my kids had memorized which blessings were on which sticks, so we had to do it with our eyes closed :) I hope your family loves doing this as much as mine did!
Go here to go to the product on my teachers pay teachers page. Here is the Etsy link if you prefer that platform :)
I also wrote a month long interactive Family Devotional of thanksgiving that I'm very excited about! It can be used the month of November or any time you want to emphasize being thankful!
Enjoy and God bless!