
Gratitude Card Idea 20: Send a card to one of your children
How do you become more thankful?
How do your kids become more thankful?
I believe “thanksgiving” is something we must learn. Why do I say that? Yesterday we looked at the beginning of Philippians about thankfulness. Today, let’s look at the end of Philippians.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased & I know how to abound. Everywhere & in all things I have learned both to be full & to be hungry, both to abound & to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13
Too often, we memorize Philippians 4:13 without looking at the context. Paul is able to do all things through Christ & His strength because he has learned how to be content.
Verses 11 & 12 indicate that being satisfied in life is a “learned” quality. To be grateful & thankful in any situation, abundance or need, is something you & I must learn. I never thought about thankfulness as a learning process. In other words, we must practice satisfaction and gratitude. We must learn!
Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
Apply the following to your kids, as well as yourself
- Forgetting those things which are behind – Philippians 3:13
Don’t dwell on the past. Learn whatever lessons God has for you and move forward. For me, I have running conversations in my head about times I was wronged. When I argue with Steve, I talk to myself about how I am right & he is wrong.
Ever done that before?Those conversations are a place to start. I need to pray that God will let me forget when I was wronged (or ‘think’ I’m wronged) and look at what God does in my life. - Reaching forward to those things which are ahead – Philippians 3:14
Your focus should be on God’s working in you, as you move forward – getting past those hurts & wrongs.If forgetting wrongs and reaching forward to God’s prize (3:14) is difficult for you, write down Philippians 3:13-14 on an index card. Place it near your kitchen sink. Read it everyday and memorize it. Claim this verse as truth and God will make it happen. - Name what God has given you
As I mentioned in earlier posts, making a list of thanks is extremely valuable to me. These past 2 weeks, I have been in extreme pain, unlike I’ve experienced since giving birth. I could dwell on my misery & pain.
Or, I can dwell on what God has given me. I “named” things on my gratitude list that we all take for granted.
- Ability to walk
- Ability to bend knees
- Get dressed by myself
- Able to put on shoes
- Ability to drive (Steve or Hunter drove me everywhere this past week)
When I am having a bad day, I can read through my list of gratitude and my entire perspective changes. I “learn” thankfulness.
If you’ve never “named” what you are thankful for, this is the perfect week to start.
It’s Thanksgiving! We have a national holiday set aside to “name” our thanksgivings. My next post includes some fun ways to “name” your thanksgivings this week.
Paul tells us in the next verse – Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
And James reminds us in his letter that, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Christ will give grace & strength so you can handle any & all situations in your life.
Your attitude will become humility, instead of pride.
Your kids will be receive grace & strength as they are thankful for what they have, growing into humility.
To help your kids write their own thank you notes,use my ‘How to Write a Thank You Letter’ free printable to get started. Just fill in your name & email below to receive the outline. Print out one for each thank you card your child needs to write.
Question: How do you teach your kids to be more thankful? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
