Thankfulness: How Do We Teach It To Our Kids?

This Thursday is Thanksgiving. I really enjoy Thanksgiving – family, food, a more relaxed pace, football – what a great day. Thanksgiving is the ideal day for each of us to reflect a bit on all the reasons we have to be thankful. Our current circumstances can often seem to overshadow everything else. While that’s understandable (and not all of my current circumstances are ideal) I want to see the bigger picture. I want to have an attitude of thankfulness.

As a parent, how are you doing at teaching this attitude of thankfulness? For many of us and our kids, it’s tough. It’s tough because by nature I am selfish. I want what I want when I want it. Below are a few thought on how we can help our kids develop a thankful attitude:

• Model gratitude ourselves
• Point out opportunities (big and small) to be grateful, to express thanks to God and others
• Don’t reward selfishness. When our kids have a selfish attitude let’s deal with it – remember, what gets rewarded/recognized gets repeated.
• Be generous. The counter to a selfish, me centered attitude. Give without the expectation of receiving. Bless someone else.

We have so many opportunities each day to be thankful. Let’s help our kids recognize the many blessings we all receive. As Christ followers, thankfulness should be at our core.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.” –Psalm 105:1

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.