Gratitude

Believe me I know there are some tough things to teach our kids.  I think gratitude is one of the toughest things for them to grasp.  We've had a small table tent on our table for the last month that we got at a local restaurant, it explains gratitude in terms children can supposedly understand.  I think it's vital that we have our children say "thank you" and all that.  But the longer I live the more I believe that kids learn gratitude from our attitudes, words, and actions.  Sure, we should keep on keeping on with the, "Honey, say thank you."  But it's so much bigger than that.  God wants us to be thankful in our hearts WAY more than he wants us to just say the words.  He wants us to be so grateful for him and all he's done for us that it actually changes the course of our lives.  He wants us to live for him instead of ourselves.  Now that's gratitude!  Will our kids ever "get" it?  Yes.  It may not be for twenty years but they will get it.  Think about it...when were you genuinely grateful for the blessings God has given you in your life?  It probably wasn't when you were three.  These things take time.  I'm grateful that God has given us time to learn these things and to teach them to our little ones.  Keep on keeping on.   And keep on saying out loud how grateful you are for God's love.  It will rub off.  Just listen to their prayers...I bet you hear some gratitude in one form or another.  Leave the heart stuff to God, he's big enough to soften and change their hearts.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Tell God what you're thankful for.  Tell your kids too.  I suggest you keep a record each year at Thanksgiving of how God's blessed you.  Write it down so you won't forget.  And when times get hard you can look back at God's kindness and faithfulness.  

Be lifted!

Sue

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.