A Thankful Heart

"Say thank you" I commanded, "Thank you" my son halfheartedly responded as he eagerly gripped the chocolate granola bar and then darted away.

As parents, we continually try and embed thankfulness in our children. We constantly remind them to thank us when we do something for them or to thank others when they do or give them something. Usually, our primary goal in doing this to instill manners in our children, so that they learn how to be respectful. However, how often do we remind our children to thank God for all that He has given them? Sure, we insist that we say a prayer of thanksgiving before we eat at the dinner table, but do we encourage or require prayers of thankfulness to God beyond that?

At our home, before we eat dinner there is usually the sound of little children arguing over who will say the prayer. All my children are eager to be the one to pray and usually the two older ones prevail.  However, sometimes my youngest, the three-year old, gets to pray and when he does we usually sit there for quite some time. As he begins to pray, he lists everything (one by one) that he is thankful to God for. He thanks Jesus for the couches, the televisions, the chairs, etc. As he takes inventory of our home we try and make eye contact with him, nod our head to confirm the ending of the prayer, and very noticeably mouth the words "Amen". Yet, instead of halting his beautiful display of sincere thankfulness, we should be encouraging it.We should encourage our children to thank God for every thing in their lives, both big and small.

In a child's little world, they believe that they are entitled to everything they see. From the very moment they take their first breath, food and comfort are supplied to them at their every request. This continues on for a few years (in some cases it never ends) instilling the belief in them that they are entitled to everything, hence their legendary remark "Mine!" Children believe that everything is about them and they begin to exemplify a prideful attitude and heart. Yet, the Bible says, "A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor" (Prov 29:23 NKJV).

Pride is an evil thing and has no place in a Christian's life. Although children tend to be prideful, it is our job to instill in them a sense of thankfulness because thankfulness creates a humble heart, which is the opposite of a prideful heart. As we teach our children that we do not "deserve" anything, but that we are blessed with all that Jesus Christ has given us and should be thankful for it, their hearts should begin to change. Hopefully, they will begin to realize how amazing God is and how indebted we are to Him and how He truly deserves all our praise.

Although it is good to teach our children to thank God for all that He blesses us with, we should more importantly teach our children to be thankful to God for who He is. The Bible says "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good" (1 Chron 16:34 NKJV).  If we tell our children to only thank God for what He blesses us with, they may not always be thankful if they are not getting what they want or as much as they want. However, if we teach our children who God is and the sacrifice He made for us, they will learn to be thankful to Him because of who He is and for the sacrifice of His only Son Jesus Christ, regardless of what material blessings they receive.

Obviously the best place to find out about who God is and what He has sacrificed for us is in the Bible. As we read through the Bible with our children we can point out to them God's wonderful attributes and why we should be thankful to Him. The Bible reveals that: God is kind, "The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9 NKJV). God is love, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8 NKJV). God is wise, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever (1 Tim 1:17 NKJV).

God is righteous, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He (Deut 32:4 NKJV). God is all knowing, "Oh, the depth of the riches of both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" (Rom 11:33-34 NKJV), and let's not forget what He did for us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 NKJV). 

As we teach our children about what a perfect, gracious, and powerful God we serve, they will understand that He deserves a thankful heart from us.Teaching manners is good, teaching grace before dinner is good, but teaching thankfulness in all things to an awesome God is vital!