Grateful Children

Are you raising grateful children? The leaves are falling, the air is cooler, and the days are growing shorter. We are pulling out our cardigans, donning our favorite pair of boots and sipping on lattes. We are nearing the time for our celebration feast called Thanksgiving. What do your children believe about Thanksgiving? How much thought will they give it? What matters to them – the feast or giving of thanks? You have made sacrifices and provided so much for them. Do you believe they are truly thankful? Can you honestly say that you are raising grateful children?

The history books tell us that 102 colonists, Pilgrims, came to America seeking religious freedom and new opportunities for their families. Can you imagine the sacrifice? The first winter 44 of them lost their lives and the rest struggled to survive. You know the story, an unexpected trading vessel arrived and they traded animal skins for food. They planted crops in the ground and firmly rooted their hope in the Lord. The remaining colonists were grateful for God’s provision, their safety and their new friends. They set aside a day for feasting and prayer – actually, I believe it lasted 3 days. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln deemed the last Thursday of November “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.” In 1941, Congress declared the 4th Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day and a legal holiday.

As we read this, we realize that our children should be so grateful! Truly, they should be filled with gratitude. Look at the sacrifices that the colonists and so many in the military have made to secure our religious freedom and the opportunity to amply provide for our families. It is so easy to shake our heads in disappointment as we realize we are not raising grateful children.

Experts have told us that the best way to teach our children or impress something on them is to demonstrate it by our example. So, let’s each stop and ask ourselves, “Are we grateful children?” Look what was sacrificed for us! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) Apart from God we were lost in the wilderness and doomed to death. But the Messiah arrived and traded His life for ours. Now our hope is firmly rooted in Him. This Thanksgiving we should be grateful for God’s provision, for God’s promises and for His people. We should be grateful children.

As you prepare to feast, make plans for a time of prayer. Set the example as one who is not just thankful – but is filled to overflowing with great gratitude! Make this Thanksgiving about giving thanks!

A Note from Pam:

I am thankful for you! Thank you for reading and sharing these posts! Together we can spread the good news of Jesus Christ and grow in our relationship with Him. Love you!