Journaling

Hmmm, it wasn’t me, but I think thankfulness is a great standard! It reminds me of Romans 1 where it says they were not thankful, neither did they honor God as God – not exact quote…and if we choose not to do those things the list that follows is not pretty. We’re constantly learning that in any situation we can give thanks. Sometimes that means telling God that we really don’t want to do something but are thankful and will determine to honor him and do it regardless.

I’m not sure I would be demanding with the journal, though. It could become a hammer for your daughter. Thankfulness is best ‘caught.’ Training in the verbal has helped our family. As we learn the lesson of thankfulness, it will appear in everything; even our journals!

I could be wrong; I’m always so happy to learn from others.

Blessings,

Cindy

Hey Angie! You have caused me to think and that is a good thing! When the children are small we play a thankfulness game before bed (not every night, but often) that goes, “I’m thankful for…” Then we take turns. Sometimes the child gets into a grump and doesn’t want to respond. I keep going anyway for a minute or two. (Short lessons, right?)

As they grow we try very hard to be thankful to one another for every act of kindness or help (passing the salt counts for a thank you!). We ‘ve also tried to be careful to send thank you notes (not email).

As the children reach some tough spots (and that can be a very small matter in our eyes but huge to them–like a math lesson), we have really taken Romans 1 to heart. I have applied it as a nag, but God is helping me to now apply it with empathy. Some things are hard. We do need to really think about what can we be thankful for in this situation. We do often have to make up our mind to honor God through it. It is a death to self and that is always a positive because as we lay down our desires, he give us a better thing.

We had some rebellion with one particular child and found that the rebellion was simply from the attitude of ungratefulness and an unwillingness to honor God as God.

Another biggie is my own thankfulness (probably the biggest issue of all!). As we wives and moms learn to show thankfulness to our husbands and children, it sets the tone of thankfulness in our home. Blessings to you! I’m thankful for the opportunity to share what God has taught us!

Cindy