"All our discontents about what we want appeared to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have." Daniel Defoe
Does trying to please your children ever wear you out? So many parents work long hours to provide luxuries so children can keep up with friends, rush children to the latest, greatest activity, and worry whether they can provide enough. Yet, despite the working and rushing and worrying, children are discontent. Perhaps the answer isn’t providing more. Perhaps we need to simply teach our children thankfulness for what they already have.
Consider the pilgrims:
· Suffering—seasickness and disease for over 2 months at sea
· Stranded—far from security of intended landing site
· Grief-stricken--because over half their number died the first winter
· Thankful—for all the blessings they still had
“Thank you for the food making this winter survivable. Thank you for the friendship of the local natives without which we would not survive. Thank you that we could establish a government for the protection of all. Thank you for life.” If you read the diaries of the Pilgrims, the overarching tenor of their stories is thankfulness for all that life in this new place offered. As little as they had, they were deeply grateful.
How can we inspire that kind of gratitude in our children? November provides a perfect setting for focusing on gratitude. Take this month to build traditions that instill gratitude that lasts long after the turkey is consumed.
· Construct a memorial. This can take many forms—choose the one best suited to your family. We took the base of a fountain and gathered smooth, flat stones from a nearby riverbed. On the stones, family members wrote specific experiences or things for which they were grateful. Every time a new blessing is given, another stone is added. As they glimmer under the water, the stones remind us of God’s amazing provision.
Others use colorful baskets and collect memorial stones in these. Still others plant a tree or special perennial to commemorate the blessings of the year.
· Create a gratefulness box. Have children decorate a shoe box then cut a slit in the lid. Each evening take a moment for each person to write on a slip of paper the thing for which they are most grateful from the day. (Parents can help younger children, or they can draw a picture.) On Thanksgiving, open the box and read the blessings from the month. The nightly practice of choosing something for which to give thanks develops a habit of gratitude and contentment.
· Give to others. Children are innately generous. Choose a charity related to children and have your children create a plan to support this charity. They might donate their gently used clothing and toys to a neighborhood shelter. Older children might choose one night per week to serve a meal at a homeless shelter for families. Our family’s favorite is to purchase gifts for Operation Christmas Child. Our children each choose a child comparable in age and gender to them and use their savings to fill a shoe box with toys and necessities. I’m always humbled by both their generosity and excitment as they spend their frugal allowances to make another child’s Christmas. Their favorite part is writing a letter to the child. (Note: Boxes have a November deadline. Check local sources for yours.) As children give to those in need, they generally become more content with what they have.
Thankfulness. As we teach our children to be thankful we not only relieve ourselves from exhaustion, but we open the door to true contentment for our children. No wonder Thanksgiving is quickly becoming a favorite holiday for families everywhere.
Please join us to encourage each other with your insights, remembering to keep comments uplifting and considerate of all. Click on 'comments' below to discuss this month's topic.
This month’s topic: What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
