How can we encourage gratitude for kids? Let’s jump right in . . .
Pray to Encourage Gratitude for Kids
Praying seems so simple, but doesn’t always happen. We say our relationship with God is most important, but the urgent activities take over and we push prayer aside. If that is a picture of your life, I encourage you to rethink your schedule so you are modeling prayer as important for your kids.
When I am in the midst of trials and personal issues, prayer is all I have. And prayer is intertwined with thanksgiving. How can you use prayer to encourage gratitude for kids. Let’s look at 1 Thessalonians.
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Prayer is sandwiched between rejoicing always and giving thanks in everything. Since God wants you to pray continually, we need to include rejoicing and gratitude. Today I am only focusing on gratitude.
If you also start a habit of of rejoicing and thanking God each day with your kids, they will have a foundation of gratitude. You will instill gratitude in your kids for a lifetime.
My daughter Ashley, asks her five-year-old and two-year-old each night what they are thankful for. Then, they pray, thanking God for whatever was said. It’s really that simple. If you are keeping a things to be grateful for list, you can use it as you pray and thank God.
When your kids are having a hard time, take a moment and pray. Find one thing you can say “thank you God”. Two weeks ago, I was having a very difficult day. In my mind, I wanted to hurt others like I had been hurt.
All of a sudden, I stopped running that conversation in my head. You know the one I’m talking about.
I grabbed my gratitude journal and wrote down things I till I calmed down.
Finding things to be thankful for gave me peace and freedom. I was able to let go of the hurt I was feeling.
Pray Without Ceasing!
The word “ceasing” has some interesting meanings. It goes along with a continual cough. I can truly relate to this because I’ve had a nagging cough the past few days. It just won’t go away.
That’s the way our prayers should be to God…they just don’t go away. We are always relying on God to be thankful & joyful.
Another connotation of the word ceasing is the regular production of fruit every year. A fruit tree produces fruit on a regular basis – every year. Again, that’s an example of how we should approach God…on a regular basis.
Craig Groeschel says, “I don’t pray long. But I don’t go long without praying.” Think about that. Your prayers & your children’s prayers do not need to be long. Just be sure to not wait too long before you pray again. Pay attention to praying throughout the day.
If you need help remembering like I do, set some reminders on your phone. When they go off, stop whatever you’re doing and pray for a couple minutes. My alarm just went off, so I’m stopping to pray right now.
I’m back from praying . . .
Gratitude for Kids Ideas
During this Advent season, choose a time right now that you will pray with your kids each day. Always start with thanksgiving in your prayers. Be sure to thank God for whatever situation you are in.
I remember when the kids took naps. Before they took a nap, we prayed together. I always started my prayer with, “Thank you God for Daddy who works so hard for us.”
Model & teach your children to thank God for their circumstances. If they see you model thankfulness and you encourage them to be thankful, your children will be thankful as adults.
30 Days of Thanks Grand Prize Giveaway
I’ve rounded up a wonderful prize for one of my lucky readers. During the entire month, you can enter to win our Giving Thanks Grand Prize Giveaway. Lifeschooling, Farmer’s Wife Rambles , This Love-Filled Life, Beyond the Stick Figure, The Wolfe Pack, Mom’s Mustard Seeds and How to Homeschool My Child have all donated prizes to be included in our grand prize. Take a look at what’s included (and we may add more later in the month).
One winner will be announced on December 1, 2019. If you enter to win, you agree to have your email shared with each blogger who donated a prize to our Giving Thanks Grand Prize Giveaway.
