Appreciate Where You Are This Christmas
“And be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15
Every Christmas season, we hear a lot about gratitude — and rightfully so. Gratitude is powerful. It reminds us of what God has done, where He has carried us, the blessings He has poured out, and the people He has placed around us.
But there is another spiritual practice that gets overlooked, one that may be just as important for the soul:
Appreciation for where you are right now.
Gratitude looks back and says, “Thank You, Lord, for what You’ve given.”
Appreciation looks around and says, “Lord, thank You for where You have me.”
The difference is subtle… but life-changing.
When We Forget to Appreciate the Present
Sometimes we’re so focused on what we wish life looked like that we completely miss the beauty of the season we’re already standing in.
We look at:
the job we wish we had,
the relationship we hope will come,
the healing we’re still praying for,
the financial pressure we want God to lift,
the “someday” we imagine will feel easier, calmer, better.
And in the meantime, we overlook the small but sacred ways God is working right now.
Adam and Eve did this too.
They stood in a garden overflowing with beauty, abundance, freedom, and God’s very presence… yet their hearts became fixated on the one thing they didn’t have.
When appreciation is missing, even abundance feels like “not enough.”
This Season, What If You Shifted Your Vision?
As we move into the holidays — a time when emotions, family dynamics, expectations, and memories all rise to the surface — take a breath and look at your life as it is in this moment.
Not the life you hope for.
Not the one you used to have.
Not the one you think would finally make you happy.
This one. Right here.
And ask:
Where has God placed me for a reason?
What is He teaching me in this chapter?
What blessings are already here that I’ve overlooked?
What small gifts are present today that I’ve been too tired or too distracted to notice?
Because appreciation is simply noticing — and honoring — the goodness that is already present.
Appreciation Quietly Changes the Heart
When you begin appreciating where you are:
The pressure eases.
The pace slows.
The heart softens.
The mind clears.
And joy begins to rise — not because everything is perfect, but because you finally see what God is doing in the middle of the imperfection.
Gratitude remembers God’s faithfulness.
Appreciation discovers His presence right now.
Together, they help us live with a fullness that circumstances can’t take away.
A Prayer for Today
Lord, help me slow down enough to appreciate where You have me. Open my eyes to the blessings in my present season and soften my heart to trust Your timing. Teach me to walk in gratitude for all You’ve done and appreciation for all You’re doing right now. Amen.
