We try so hard as parents to instill a thankful attitude in our children. "Now Kylie (Cooper, Addison), did you say thank you for...", is something that is said at least 3 times a day in our house. The older kids get it. They say thank you almost all the time...but Addy...she still needs a little help. When they come home from playdates, I hear, "your kids have the best manners", and it makes me feel great as a parent...I DID IT. Yes, I instilled "thankfulness" in my children.
Then it's 5:00...
They are hungry...
They are sleepy....
They are just grumpy and irritated and the "I wants" and "give me" starts! As a parent, you should correct your child's statements with a, "Mommy can I please have..." and "mommy, thank you for...". But sometimes that just doesn't happen. As a mom, that 5:00 hour is just a painful for us as it is for them. How many times have I neglected to say thank you? How have I shown a thankful heart when I just don't feel like it? Well...to be honest, I don't all the time. So today I decided to start living in a "thankful" home. To be thankful all the time. Of course we are commanded in the Bible to be thankful. Colossians 3:15 says, "
Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful.".
Being that it is the season of "thankfulness". I decided to instill this in our home...starting today. Although we have done this in the past, we will start again. At dinner each person will say one thing they are thankful for. We will change it up nightly to be someTHING or someONE or something about someone else...you know what I mean. I decided to bring out the "thankful bowl". As a teenager we had a bowl that sat our our table with a pad of paper and a pen. We would write down something we were thankful for and throw it in the cup at the top. It would then "overflow" and we would pick some of the papers out and read them. Anyone who came to our house was allowed to add to the bowl and it was great! Seriously, it was great...even if there were a few funny ones in there:) But now that I have 2 kids who can write and express their thankfulness, I figured it was time. Cannot wait to start this tonight!!
And yes, I NEED TO START MODELING thankfulness. As a mom, it is crucial that our children know what a gift they are to us. Psalm 127:3 says, "
Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him.". So why don't we always treat them as such? I never want my kids to feel like they were a burden or that I did not value them. Each day I think of how thankful I am to have 4 beautiful children. 4 children who daily surprise me. 4 children who tell me how much they love me. 4 children who make me laugh more times than I can count on a daily basis. They need to know these things. So...because I am such a visual person, I am going to start leaving notes in their Christmas trees (yes, I said Christmas tree...we put them up last week in their rooms), telling them how thankful I am for them.
And my husband....wow am I thankful for him. He married an imperfect person for sure! But guess what, he still loves me! He works so that I can stay home with the kids. He showers me with love! He is a Godly example of what a daddy should be to our children as well. This morning Cooper said to me, "when I grow up, I want to be a daddy....and a paleontologist" . He said he loves his daddy so much and he will be a good daddy just like his! How sweet (and one for the thankful bowl...).
Anyways, just a thought for today. Who/What are you thankful for and how do you instill a thankful heart in your children?
