With Thanksgiving approaching, I have been asking myself some tough questions.
Do I thank my children enough? Do I demonstrate a spirit of thanksgiving? Do I have an attitude of gratitude? Am I injecting our day with praise so they will have an example to emulate?
Sadly, the answer is no. At my house there’s too many “Why didn’t you?’s” and not enough “Thank you!’s”. But I’ve been brainstorming ways to fix that. For me, I feel the most effective way to have an attitude of gratitude is to find ways to say thank you throughout the day even when, especially when, I don’t want to.
When they don’t like the dinner I cook: Thank you for being honest with me even though it might hurt my feelings. How can you say that in a kinder way?
When the toddler is throwing a temper tantrum: Thank you for telling me how you feel, now let’s calm down and talk about it.
When the teens come in my room to talk just as I’m trying to fall asleep: Thank you for reaching out, this time is really special.
When I get the unwanted phone call from the chatty neighbor: Thanks so much for thinking of me today. I have a few minutes to chat before I need to go.
And let me say to you dear readers – thank you. Thank you for being part of The Homeschool Village. Thank you for reading, for caring, for participating!
It’s making the decision to look at the glass and see it’s half full. It’s praising Him in the storm. Amen? Amen.
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD. ~Psalm 150: 1-6
Cheryl writes more about her family at Some What Crunchy.
Now that is an attitude of gratitude. It never occurred to me to tell them “Thanks for telling me how you feel.” Oh, but that is good!
I can really show them gratitude in action if I just live it.
Thanks Cheryl!
Wow. I feel so humbled right now. Lately, I have been so snippy with my children when they are not grateful. Thank you so much for this post!
Thank you for this! I needed to hear it! I think on it daily and am trying
to speak kindly and show Thanksgiving in my life. It’s easy to get snippy when
3 different little voices seem like 3 big voices that go none stop. I truly want to treasure each moment!
I am so blessed to be a HS mom! I love my boys!