The family feast is coming soon, and I’m looking forward to it as much as anyone. My personal contribution to the spread this year includes two homemade pies—fudge and pecan—the traditional “pink stuff” dessert, and another side or two. These goodies are definitely a fun part of the annual festivities surrounding Thanksgiving Day.
But other than wolfing down another heaping of turkey and mashed potatoes (or your favorite pie), do you ever stop to think about the other day-to-day blessings God has given you?
Some Perspective
A few years ago, I attended our workplace staff retreat. One of the motivational speakers was a man who, over the course of several years, had endured the most horrific difficulties: the deaths of his wife and their grown adult son. He’d also experienced several episodes of cancer that had spread throughout his body.
In fact, our speaker had a challenging time of conveying his own story to us since doctors had removed a large portion of his tongue during cancer treatments. He had withstood years of rehab. —learning how to talk, how to chew food again, and how to drink from a cup without it running down his face.
Even so—this man’s message to us was that of thankfulness!
Inspiration
Hearing our speaker’s testimony of gratitude in the face of tragedy made a big impression on me! Even this morning I found my prayer time including expressions of thanks to God for things I normally take for granted such as: eyesight to read my devotional study, a full tongue to help me eat my breakfast, feet to walk through my house, the ability to drive myself to work, and operative fingers to type this article.
When we think of our blessings broken down in this way, we have so much for which to be thankful! But before we become arrogant in this fact, we need to keep some things in mind.
God is the provider of all good things in our lives! In Psalm 121:1-2 we read: “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
But so often we don’t think of life in this way. We go about our days as though we deserve all the benefits and goodness we have, and that things will always remain in our favor. But we see in Deuteronomy 8:18 to “Remember the LORD your God, because he is the one who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
As the speaker shared with us, things in life as we know them can be gone so quickly! He said we must change our mindset to one of thankfulness each day of the year—not only at Thanksgiving—and teach this approach to our kids!
How can we teach an attitude of gratitude
to our young children?
Through the senses
Ask your child to think of things they’re thankful for by considering what’s around them—things they can literally see, taste, hear, smell, or touch. Each day your “Thank You” prayer times could include several of these things.
Through relationships
Put application to your prayers for those in need around you. Say to your child, “One of our neighbors recently lost her job and is sad. But God has given us so much! Let’s take some food and cookies to the neighbor’s house tonight as a way of helping them.”
Through our community and world
A project such as Operation Christmas Child® is a great way to enlarge your child’s focus toward people outside his immediate circle of family and friends. These endeavors also show children how to be more grateful for what they may already have.
Also, remember to express your own experiences of gratitude for God’s goodness to you and your family over this past year. Children will enjoy hearing your excitement in recounting God’s blessings in literal ways they can see.
Oh, and once you learn this gateway to gratefulness—enjoy that second piece of pie!