Thankful Tree
My parents and grandparents knew what it was like to go without. I often heard them say, "Use it up, wear it our, make do, or do without." Nothing came easy. They knew the value of hard work, and they provided for their family.
And, they were thankful.
On the flip-side, I've never been without. Neither have my kids. We've never missed a meal, unless it was by choice. We live in a free country, have nice clothes, a dependable car, a warm house in the winter, a cool house in the summer, good health insurance, lots of toys, and a little left over for an occasional vacation. On top of that, we also have an exchanged life. We've had our old sinful lives exchanged for Christ's life within us.
Yet, we are rarely oozing with thankfulness.
Compared to other families in our affluent county, perhaps we've fallen behind. But compared to overwhelming majority of the world, we're filthy rich! I have to remind myself of this. I want my kids to know this. My wife and I desperately want to prevent my kids from having a sense of entitlement. We want them to be thankful and content with what they have.
When they are older, we want to take them on a mission trip so they can have a different perspective of life, but for now we've got our "Thankful Tree."
We drew a tree on a poster board and made leaves out of construction paper. Each day, sometimes at breakfast, sometimes at lunch, we say what we're thankful for and write it down on the leaf. No one can say the same thing twice. Then we place it on the tree. Our boys think it's great, and it teaches them an invaluable lesson on gratitude.
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:14
"Oh give thanks to the Lord , for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting." - Psalm 107:1
"I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers" - Philippians 1:4
"but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:57
Created over 1 year ago
