Why is gratitude an important spiritual practice?
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34
The idea of gratitude in the Bible is consistently spread throughout both the Old and New Testament. This simple command often coincides with thankfulness, praise, and peace. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” This verse connects the ideas of peace and gratitude. Gratitude has the unique ability to provide the peace that surpasses understanding, regardless of circumstances. It aligns our hearts with that of the Lord’s by reminding us of His past faithfulness to us and his future promises. When we practice remembering the gifts we have been given, it gives us a whole new perspective.
Thanksgiving can get lost in the noise of family gatherings, travel, Black Friday, and the lead up to Christmas. This season, I would encourage you to take the opportunity to teach your children ways to show gratitude. Here are a few ideas you can use to do this.
Share Gratitude at the Dinner Table
While it may sound simple, going around the table and asking your children what they are thankful for at a mealtime is a perfect way to get your kids thinking. It is important to model this for your children first by sharing what you are thankful for. Encourage them to each come up with their own answers. Affirm their answers and continue the conversation by asking “why.” Always bring the conversation back to how God is the giver of all the things they are thankful for and He is to be praised.
Create A Thankfulness Jar
A few years ago, I started a thankfulness jar. I used a clear mason jar, and it sat on my nightstand. I would write down things I was thankful for every night on a little colored slip of paper. Whenever I was discouraged, I would randomly pick a piece of paper from the jar to read and was immediately reminded of the reason I had put that in the jar. I remember one time when I dumped the entire jar out and read all the tiny slips of paper. It was so helpful to have such a physical reminder of all I had to be grateful for. I think that this would be such a wonderful idea for families to practice together. You can encourage your kids to write what they are thankful for and put it in the jar the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day, go through the jar and read all of the things your family has to be grateful for.
Model Gratitude Out Loud
Simple comments like, “We are so blessed to get to go to the grocery store today” and “Look how beautiful the sky is today, or I love getting to be with you” are an active way to model gratitude. Taking time to pause in the little moments and practice gratitude in a way that is descriptive and accessible encourages your kids to do the same.
The root of the word gratitude means “to praise, to celebrate; to be in contact with the Divine.” Practicing biblical gratefulness draws us close to God. It really is one of the best ways to invite the Lord into our days. The importance of this spiritual practice of gratitude seems to be lost in our culture. Being intentional in creating opportunities to teach your children and grandchildren ways to show gratitude in a great way to usher in the Holiday season.