![\"Ellen](\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/08\/Ellen-Moore.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday. I love the weather, the food, the gathering of family and friends around the table, even the football. Most of all, I love the intentionality of us as a nation (theoretically, at least) pausing to say, \u201cThank You\u201d to each other and to God. It\u2019s interesting, and no coincidence, that Thanksgiving is a compound word comprised of \u201cthanks\u201d and \u201cgiving.\u201d These are two beautiful words and principles that come together in such a unique and inspiring way that they actually have the power to change lives.<\/p>\n
Gratitude and generosity are not widely prevalent in our society, especially in the lives of kids.\u00a0 There is a natural tendency in all of us to get sucked into thinking that life is \u201call about me\u201d and that anything that is inconvenient or uncomfortable must be bad.\u00a0 The exact opposite is true.\u00a0 Helping children to understand that all that they receive and benefit from in their lives is the result of someone else\u2019s generosity is crucial. It\u2019s easy for us as adults, and how much more for kids, to take things for granted.\u00a0 But Psalm 103:2 reminds us to \u201cPraise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.\u201d As friends and followers of Jesus we are so blessed \u2013 with forgiveness, protection, healing, provision \u2013 and kids are no exception. Teaching and showing children what it looks and sounds like to take the time to acknowledge and express gratitude to God and the people in our lives is powerful.\u00a0 \u201cThanks\u201d then becomes a catalyst for \u201cgiving.\u201d Gratitude prompts generosity, generosity inspires gratitude, and the cycle becomes intertwined and contagious.\u00a0 The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to involve kids in giving. Giving gifts is of course a great practice to teach kids, but it\u2019s also a time to engage kids in giving of themselves \u2013 serving food at a shelter, assembling and distributing care packages to the homeless or military, spending time with the elderly, and the list goes on. Look for opportunities, as parents and those involved in children\u2019s ministry, to let kids give of their money, time, and creativity.<\/p>\n
Thankful, giving people stand out\u2026we notice them and want to be like them.\u00a0 This holiday is the perfect opportunity to teach kids about thanks and giving.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great reminder for us, as well. As we model these traits in our own lives, not only will we reap personal reward, we have the opportunity to start a trend and ignite a truth in the hearts and minds of kids that will literally change their lives and the world around us. Happy Thanksgiving!<\/p>\n
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