Thankfulness

Mary’s Monday Musings

Thankfulness- Posted Nov 24

            As Thanksgiving approaches, I remember one evening when our children were young. After our family dinner ended with homemade cake for dessert, the children ran outdoors to play. Our youngest son turned back to say, “Mamma, you’re a good maker.” No compliment ever sounded better.

Even after all these years, I smile and my heart swells at the memory. The sound of little children expressing thankfulness makes adults smile. Our hearts warm to hear a little voice lisp, “God is great. God is good, and we thank him for our food,” We recognize that simple prayer as a step to establishing  a pattern of expressing gratitude which positions children for lifelong blessings. God must also delight in the sound, because He established the benefits of thankfulness. Thankful people live lives with more joy and gladness than those who have less ability to recognize and express gratitude. We can practice recognizing blessings, both big and small.  When we teach a little one to appreciate tiny blessings, we position that child for a happier life.  Even if we were not trained at a young age to recognize and express gratitude for good even in the midst of the bad, we can, as adults, train ourselves in thankfulness. This Thanksgiving season let’s ask God to help us grow an ever increasing thankful heart and to maintain it.