Family Talk: How Do You Really Give Thanks?

As we all know—or say—Thanksgiving is meant to be a day to reflect on all of the blessings in our lives. It's pretty easy with all we're distracted with, to forget to give thanks in a way that is sincere.

Every night, when my family sits down for dinner, we . Usually my husband will start, and then I'll add to the prayer, and so will my two kids, nine and five. Now, when my husband and I pray, we are sure to include giving thanks for all that has transpired throughout the day, the meal we are about to consume, and the time that we get to spend together as a family.

I usually mention the aspects of asking for the ability for the whole family to continue to become stronger as a unit, for patience in our , and everyone we come across, and peace and joy that we can share with each other, and everyone in our daily lives.

My son will chime in with his desires, as kids usually focus on their wants rather than expressing gratitude for what they have. And my daughter will usually make a wish, one that has been popular and recurrent is "I wish we had a dog that listened."

And while hearing my kids "pray" at dinner time, I can't help but to smile at their notion of what praying is. Along with enjoying the moment of my kids' candidness, I do remind them that they should be speaking about all of the things that they are happy to have recieved, all of the things that they are grateful for.

The funny thing about Thanksgiving is that people will go around an say something that they are grateful for, at least we do in my house. When we pray, however, we give thanks. You might say those are one in the same, but, in a sense, these are two different actions. When you give thanks, there is a receiver of that gratitude. You are expressing thanks to whom you believe is responsible for the blessings in your life. When you go around, as a family, and express all that you are grateful for, you are doing so as a conversation with all those around you. You are expressing your feelings to those sitting at the same table.

I think this is a significant difference, because having to express to someone right in front of you, what you are grateful for takes some serious thought. I want them to not only express thanks for all that they have, but to also take some real time to think about all that they are truly grateful for, which is why I try to emphasize, with examples, all of the blessings that they may take for granted as just being a part of every child's life.

Pointing out such blessings does seem to make them think twice about all they have for which to be grateful. How do you give your children a sense of gratitude for all that they have?