--- title: Making Room for Gratitude description: Dave and Mercedes Rizzo remind parents to look past their current challenges and reflect on the positive impact their children have on others. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20211124%20DMRizzo%20F.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/making-room-for-gratitude#) [PARENTING](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/parenting) # Making Room for Gratitude Nov 24, 2021 11:30:00 AM  |  by [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20211124%20DMRizzo%20F.png) *Dave and Mercedes Rizzo remind parents to look past their current challenges and reflect on the positive impact their children have on others.* In the month of November, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude and being grateful. It is a good time to think and reflect on the many good things in our lives. However, sometimes it’s hard to see past your current troubles. Parents of children with special needs know this feeling well especially when the challenges their children face loom large. It’s essential to cultivate gratitude. One way to do this is to reflect upon the progress your child has made and the positive impact he or she has had on others. We have caught glimpses of this in the open-hearted reactions of others. We know that our daughter Danielle has had a profound effect on many people, including her siblings, family members, therapists, teachers, doctors and even total strangers. We know that our children have greater empathy and compassion for people with disabilities because of their sister.   ![little girl on swings](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20211124%20DMRizzo%202.jpg?width=1080&name=20211124%20DMRizzo%202.jpg)   We believe that God intends for all of His children to be seen as special gifts. Each has been uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, our loving Father. This is a good place to begin when you are finding it hard to cultivate gratitude.   > [Click to tweet: > We believe that God intends for all of His children to be seen as special gifts #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/h2e3A) This Thanksgiving, let us be reminded of all the joy that our children have brought us. Prayer can give all of us the opportunity to cultivate a joyous spirit. We can pray with confidence, knowing that God will direct us and fill us with joy. In this way our steps will be lighter, our shoulders no longer quite so hunched, our hearts lightened too. Now there is room for gratitude to enter and overflow into true thanksgiving.   ![girl laughing](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20211124%20DMRizzo%201.jpg?width=1080&name=20211124%20DMRizzo%201.jpg)   --- Copyright 2021 David and Mercedes Rizzo Images: (top) Canva Pro; all others copyright 2021 David and Mercedes Rizzo, all rights reserved ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmaking-room-for-gratitude%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmaking-room-for-gratitude%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmaking-room-for-gratitude%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Making%20Room%20for%20Gratitude) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmaking-room-for-gratitude%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmaking-room-for-gratitude%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/DAVID%20AND%20MERCEDES%20RIZZO.jpeg) ### [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) David and Mercedes write and speak from a faith perspective as parents of a child with autism. They are available to speak, and have appeared on radio and other media. Visit [DavidAndMercedesRizzo.com](http://davidandmercedesrizzo.com) to learn more. Follow them on Facebook at [Autism With The Rizzos](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-With-The-Rizzos/281489198616138?ref=tn_tnmn). Authors of *Praying For Your Special Needs Child*, (Word Among Us Press) and [*Spiritually Able* and *The Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit*](http://www.loyolapress.com/search-result.aspx?s=rizzo) (Loyola Press). ## Related Blog Articles [ Hiking the Glacier and Taking the Risk Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/hiking-the-glacier-and-taking-the-risk) [ Beating The School Bus Home Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/04/27/beating-school-bus-home) [ It's OK to take a break! 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