Teaching Good Things

As we Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this month it is a good time to really focus on the character trait of gratitude. Little irks me more than an ungrateful person! It seems that for most people the more they are given the more ungrateful they become and act as if they ‘deserve’ more. Children that are raised in a home that revolves around them and their wants usually grow up believing that the WORLD revolves around them, I’m sure several people are coming to mind right now.

I’m not so sure we can ‘teach’ gratitude because it really is a condition of the heart, but we sure need to be creative in how we encourage it!

As with everything else the best way to encourage gratitude is for it to be modeled by the parents. If mom and dad are always complaining, never content and critical it’s a sure bet the kids will be that way!If you are caught in this trap work hard to break free of those chains!

EVERY, yes, EVERY situation has a silver lining, you just have to look for it. Scripture tells us that God uses ALL things for our good and His glory. We may not always understand, it may seem hopeless, but there IS something to be thankful for in every situation.

A few suggestions:

• When a ‘bad’ something happens, stop and say a good thing about it. When your kids are disappointed make them verbalize a positive aspect to the situation. If nothing else say, “Thank you Lord, I know this is for my good!”
• Keep a small notebook next to your bed or at your desk and every day write at least one thing to be thankful for. What a great keepsake this would be!
• If your kids don’t like someone, make them say something nice about their character.
• Sometimes having to go without something for a while can cause a person to be grateful. If you need to, remove an item or activity.
• Visit a homeless shelter or children’s hospital, see what real heartache is like.
• Watch some documentaries about third world counties and see how they live.
• Remind the children, and yourself; when God gives you lemons in life you can either suck on the lemons and look sour OR you can add some sugar (an attitude of gratitude) and enjoy some lemonade!

This would make a great lesson, cut them some lemon wedges and ask them to lick or suck on the lemon, take a picture of their face.

Explain to them that this is how you look when you are ungrateful and the rest of us have to look at you, you make the rest of us sour!

Then add some sugar to a wedge or squeeze some out to make lemonade. Take a picture of their face when they lick (or drink) that! Tell them that a smile (and attitude of gratitude) make everyone around them SMILE!

It is like this for every situation in life. People who choose to be positive and THANKFUL bring life and JOY to people around them. People who grumble and gripe and demand MORE drag everyone around them down.

YOUR attitude of gratitude

is the sugar to every situation!

This month I present a challenge to you and your children:

• Write a letter (or at least a note) to 10 people that you are grateful for. Think about people who usually don’t get recognition. Are there people in your past that poured into your life that deserve a sincere “Thank You”? Have you thanked your parents lately? Have you thanked your pastor or teacher? Have you thanked your mother-in-law or father-in-law for your spouse? Perhaps write a thank you to someone you have really struggled with.
• Write one letter a day, or all at once.
• Do NOT send it in an e-mail or text. A handwritten letter or card means so much more!!!
• Be sincere and specific.
• Add some sweetness to someone’s life!