Teaching Kids To Be Thankful

In a column called “Voices,” the Christian Post offers outside writers the opportunity to share their views on faith as it relates to cultural and societal issues.

Recently Fred Pry contributed an article entitled “4 simple ways to teach kids to be thankful this November.”

Fry began the article with both an observation and a couple questions.

“What’s something you’re thankful for today? God calls us to be a thankful people, full of gratitude. There are certainly plenty of things to be thankful for in our lives — even in times of hardship. Do the kids in your life have thankful hearts? Teaching kids to cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving is a great lesson, not only for November but for all year, every year!”

Fry then offered 4 special fun ways to engage children while creating an attitude of gratitude and helping them observe God’s blessings.

1. Create a chart of things to be thankful for.
2. “Crack the code” of things to be thankful for.
3. Play “I spy: thankful edition.”
4. Make a thank you card to God.

A couple of these suggestions are obvious, the other two need explanation. If any parents or grandparents are interested, you can click this link and read the details of each of the four ideas.

Fry’s article and suggestions reminds me of Moses’ address to ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4-6.

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
ESV

While we don’t live under The Old Law, the application of this exhortation is still valid today and is summed up in Paul’s command for parents to raise our children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Note the expressions used by Moses on how the Word regulates our lives and what they mean.

• “Bind them as a sign on your hand.” God’s Word directs every action.
• “Frontlets between your eyes.” God’s Word controls our thoughts.
• “Write them on the doorposts of your house.” God’s Word regulates our family life.
• “Write them on the gates of the city.” God’s Word guides our social interactions and our relationships with others.

Thanksgiving, however, is born in a heart that loves God and sees Him as the “Giver of every good gift” (Jas. 1:17). Realizing we’re created in His image, and are the recipient of so many bountiful blessings ought to cause us to echo and imbibe the feeling of the Psalmist: “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men (Ps. 107:8).

Of course, children are naturally self-centered and must be taught to share, to say “thank you,” and to really develop an attitude of gratitude. Moses’ parental advice involves both teaching and talking, both formal and informal. So many opportunities abound in the course of our daily activities to teach children to be thankful. The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, is a “slow pitch,” and easy for us to involve the whole family.

In addition to Fry’s suggestions, here are two more.

#1 Write the letters T H A N K S G I V I N G as an acrostic on a sheet of paper. Have each child write down something or someone they are thankful for that corresponds to each letter.

#2 Title a paper “The ABC’S OF THANKSGIVING. Write each letter on the paper and ask the children to come up with 26 things they are thankful for.

I suggested this as a part of my sermon Sunday, with the letter written on the back of my sermon notes. When we went to lunch with the family, our 7-year old granddaughter, Katherine had already thought of her 26. It was particularly pleasing and personally touching that her “G” was for “Grammy.” And her “P” was for. “Papaw.” (Yes, everyone can say “Ahhh” now).

Finally, let’s remember in parenting that many lessons are more easily “caught” than “taught.” So, are you a good role model of being thankful to your children and grandchildren? Do they hear you say “thank you,” even to total strangers who show some act of kindness? Do you write “thank you” notes? Are your meal time and bed time prayers filled with God-ward expressions of thanksgiving?

Paul’s two word admonition in Colossians 3:15 is appropriate not only at this time of year for parents and kids alike, but every day, all year. “Be thankful”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman