Is the holiday season one big rush for you? Maybe it’s time to slow down the race to buy, decorate, and make our lists.
Over the years I have often wondered why Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. The giving of gifts seems to be the first step in being grateful. But there are times when we need to be thankful for little things just as much as we fill our hearts with gratitude for big things.
Thanksgiving time can teach us about all the things we have to be thankful for in our lives.
Remember that game many of us played when we were young—Follow the Leader? It’s a good way to think about being a Thanksgiver—and we can be the leaders during whatever time we have with our grandchildren. Filling our hearts with gratefulness gives us joy, and it often spills over to others. They see the fun we’re having, and they are invited to join the spirit of gratitude.
We can take the first step by looking for good deeds from a grandchild, a friend, or even a stranger. We walk through our days keeping an eye out for small gifts of kindness or compliments that come our way, and we’re ready to respond with a “Thank you” or “Thank you so much!”
And when givers make sacrifices for us (even small ones), they deserve to have us express gratefulness in a more sacrificial way as well. The sweetness of a hug, a handwritten note, or some other act of service will let that person know that we recognize and appreciate the specialness of their gift.
The holiday season is a great time to start thinking more and more this way.
And as we make these little steps a habit, we become Thanksgiver Leaders for our grandchildren and others. Children love “thank you” recognition too, so when we catch them following our example by giving or serving us or others, we should remember to blow them kisses of thanks or give hugs of gratitude. Gratitude will become a gold star in their lives.
Read more from Carolynn at Grandkids Matter here.
Carolynn J. Scully is poet, author, and speaker for Christian women’s groups. She has won awards for her poetry and has published two books. Her book, Something Good Inside of Me, is an award-winning children’s poetry book. Her most recent book, First Moments: Pregnancy Prayers & Ponderings, joins the growth of the baby in the womb to the spiritual life of the child. You can contact her at her Facebook page here for more information. Both of her books are available at Amazon (use the links above) and Barnes & Noble here and here.
