with thanksgiving."
My little grandson is 11 months old, and the pride and joy of Gramma! Months ago,
before he even knew what the words meant, we all began saying, "please" and "thank
you" when we gave him something. As parents, and grandparents, it's important to us
to establish good manners in children. With this constant repetition, these words will
become part of their vocabulary at an early age. As ardently as we try to implant
manners, we should also be teaching them to be thankful. We live in a generation
that thinks that everybody owes them something. Youngsters are filled with greed,
always wanting more, and never satisfied with what they already have. They have
not learned to be thankful.
Being thankful is a habit that must be learned. This thankfulness must be carefully
cultivated and nurtured. Thankfulness does not come naturally, the "old man" is
not a thankful person! Children learn what they observe. If your children are unthankful,
trace the example. What are you teaching them? Do you have a thankful spirit? When
we have a thankful spirit there is no room for discontent, greed and covetousness to
take root.
Psalms 95:1 & 2 "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms."
When I was growing up, it was a tradition before we ate our beautiful Thanksgiving
Day feast that my mom prepared, we would go around the table and each share
something that we were thankful for. I continued this tradition with my children. We
have much to be thankful for! The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:20, "Giving thanks
always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
Notice that this verse specifies, "all things" God makes no mistakes, what He deems
best for us, He sends to us...thank Him accordingly!
As you gather this year with family and friends, take a few moments to contemplate the
blessings that have come from your Heavenly Fathers loving hand, and be thankful!
For The Beauty Of The Earth
For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For Thyself, best Gift Divine!
To our race so freely giv'n,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth, and joy in Heav'n:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Folliot S. Pierpoint
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