Thankful

Thanksgiving is this week; can you believe it? Time goes so incredibly fast; I can’t believe we are starting to bring 2021 to a close. When we think back over this year, what are you thankful for? I am sure there have been good times and tough times. Which of these do you tend to dwell on, the good times or the tough times? I ran across a question recently, “if you only had today what you expressed thankfulness for yesterday, what would you have today?” This is an unsettling question, isn’t it? We live in a culture that highlights what we don’t have or what we want life to look like, rather than the goodness that is already there.

One of the most difficult things to teach young people today is to live with an attitude of gratitude. The reason it is so difficult to teach is they don’t see it modeled very often around them. The first step is to find ways to express gratitude for the things God has blessed us with. Whether that is through an intentional conversation at the dinner table or as you live life on the go. 

I would like to give you an idea for the opportunity you have to with Thanksgiving this week. The following is an activity you can use for this Thanksgiving and the many Thanksgivings to come.

If you use this activity or some creative adaptation of it year after year, it will help to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. After 5+ years, think about all the notes of thankfulness you will get to look back over and remember through the years.