It’s that time of year where holidays are ramping up and life seems to move more quickly than ever. But what if we press pause and make sure we are entering into these last few months with a heart of gratitude?
Whatever lies ahead—whether holidays are filled with joy, bring up hard realities, or a combination of both—how can we approach the coming season with thankfulness?
We asked some of the people who serve on Amazima’s Stateside team to weigh in—how do they keep gratitude at the forefront of their minds and hearts? We hope the final quarter of this year is filled with seeking Jesus and thanking Him for His goodness.
Thoughts from the Amazima Stateside Team
Molli Buckner
Executive Assistant
This year, God has been teaching me so much about gratitude. In March, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and the same week, my husband and I found out we were expecting our first baby. I remember crying out to God, asking “Why?” and feeling like He had failed me. Why would I step into pregnancy — a season I had always dreamed of — at the same time my mom was facing something so devastating? I felt robbed of what was supposed to be a joyful time.
But then, God began to move in my heart. He started slowly healing my mom. He showed up again and again, providing undeniable miracles along the way. My perspective began to shift — from grief and self-pity to gratitude. I started thanking Him each time my mom had a good day. Thanking Him for every healthy scan of my baby girl. And as I leaned into gratitude for the little things, the heaviness of sorrow began to lift.
I still have hard days. My mom has endured six rounds of chemo and a 5 hour major surgery, and while the road ahead is uncertain, today she is doing well. And in November, our daughter will be born. Looking back, I can see how God’s timing—though different from my own—was perfect. My pregnancy has brought joy and hope that has carried my mom, and all of us, through the darkest valley we’ve ever walked.
I’m so grateful for God’s plans for my life, because they truly are better than my own. When we finally stop wrestling Him for the pen, we begin to see His goodness and faithfulness written all along the way.
Kayla Stinson
Marketing Manager
I am deep in my toddler mom era, so I am always trying to find ways to teach my 2.5 year old about thankfulness. One of the ways we practically do that at our house is every night at the dinner table we do something my daughter calls “best part, tricky part.” We each name something that happened in our day that was our “best part” and then finish with a “tricky part.” It’s such a simple practice but always reminds me to be grateful for the small, forgettable things that brought me joy that day—a tasty matcha latte in the morning, a few extra minutes of sleep, a great conversation with a friend, health, sunny weather, etc.
Kelli Reed
Partner Relations Manager
One of my favorite ways to keep gratitude in the front of my mind is listening to worship music. It reminds me so much of His character, His faithfulness, His love, His joy, His peace, He never changes, He’s the Lion and the Lamb, He’s with us, He’s good, He’s a friend, He’s our Father, He’s our present comfort, He’s strong, He’s our Salvation, He fights our battles, He defeated death, He’s the chain breaker, He is the giver of good gifts, He keeps working in us, He is our future, He is our promise land…. I get weepy summarizing just some of the powerful messages in these songs. I guess I’m grateful for music too.
Chris Trevathan
Partner Relations Manager
For me, I try to catch the small “wins” or victories every day and be intentional to thank the Lord for them. Putting my little girls to bed at night is another regular time of Thanksgiving prayer.
Rachel Weir
CEO
One of the greatest gifts of my time in Uganda was learning to see beauty in the small, ordinary moments of life. I carry that with me, and it has shaped how I practice gratitude today.
For me, gratitude begins with pausing. In the busyness of leading Amazima and the many moving pieces of life, I try to slow down long enough to notice what God is doing—whether it’s in a student’s smile, a story of transformation, or simply the faithfulness of another day. Writing those things down in a journal or whispering a quiet prayer of thanks helps me keep my heart grounded.
I also practice gratitude by surrounding myself with reminders of the people and places that have shaped me—photos of my time in Uganda, letters from people I love, memories of moments when God’s provision was so evident. These reminders pull me back to a place of humility and joy.
And finally, gratitude for me is not just an inward practice, but something I try to express outwardly. I make it a point to say, “thank you” often—to my team, to our supporters, and to my family. Speaking gratitude out loud helps me live with a posture of thankfulness, and it reminds me that none of this work is possible alone.
Jenny Rutland
Communications Director
I have a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old, so life can feel a little chaotic. But what I often try to do is just zoom out and look at the big picture. And then it feels so clear of how blessed I am! While the days are busy, I am so thankful for the life God has entrusted to me and I desire to live fully right where He has me–chaos, tantrums, and all. It’s about being present in the current moment and soaking in the little things in daily life because ultimately, these days all make up the sum of my whole life. I want to stand at the end of my life knowing that I truly lived fully and spent time investing in the right things.
Patricia Seymour
Office Manager
I’m grateful for what I’ve learned through my suffering, and I use it to meet others with softness instead of judgment. When people turn their backs during your hardest moments, it’s devastating—but it also reveals who really sees you. Over time, that kind of clarity can become something to be grateful for. Pain that is processed becomes wisdom and you grow in ways that you could not have ever imagined. Everyone has a story beneath the surface and most of them involve heartbreak. I choose to become the “I see you” in a world full of “you’re not enough.”
Julie Nyombi
Photographer, Videographer, Social Media Coordinator
Years ago, I learned that to transform my mind, I need to change what I think. Change the thoughts I allow to take root. At times, I didn’t believe the new thoughts, but I repeated them until I could start believing them. Gratitude was and is a big part of that journey. As a photographer, my eye has been trained (much like my mind) to see beauty in light and shadows. It is something I look forward to discovering each day as a gift from God. It’s a beautiful way to live life…pausing to acknowledge a glimmer of light and breathing a thank you to God.
Katie Simkins
Administrative and Content Coordinator
I think a lot about how fixated we can become on our own lives and everything happening within our immediate line of sight. We tend to stare so intently at what’s right in front of us. When we hyper-focus not only on our own circumstances but also give in to the temptation to consume and compare our lives to others, we quickly lose sight of God and what He is doing right where we are. It is hard to be grateful when we don’t have a practice formed in us for it.
It is easy to see all the hard things and completely miss Him. But I don’t want to miss Him or the blessings He’s woven into even the most challenging circumstances in my life. Some blessings are more subtle or unexpected and require a trained eye. We need His help, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to train our eyes to see Him in all things.
I’ve found that I’m more grateful when my eyes are fixed on God, when I’m so consumed with Him that I am merely glancing at my own life, when I view all of life and every circumstance through His lens. This takes time with Him: in prayer, in His Word, and in gospel-centered community, all of which help to continuously redirect my gaze back to Him.
It might sound cliché, and I certainly don’t do this perfectly, but I truly see God more clearly when I anchor my days in His truth and presence, inviting Him to make me more aware of Him—right where I am. The byproduct of which is always gratitude.
Take care and give thanks, Amazima family. Let’s finish 2025 well!