When I was looking at some Christmas things at Pier 1, I saw this cute tree and thought it would make a perfect "Thankful Tree." In the Thanksgiving section of party supplies at Target, they had some simple but festive little place cards that I thought would work for our thankful "tags." We punched some holes, and used some fall ribbon to finish them off and hang them on our tree.
Each day, I have been asking Harper something that she wants to tell God thank you for. At first, it was kind of hard to describe what being "thankful" means, because it keeps going back to other words that she doesn't fully understand like appreciate and gratefulness. But, just because she may not fully understand the concept does not mean we aren't going to practice it. One of the things I most hope to develop in my kiddos is a grateful heart. They are so. so. blessed. Spoiled. Fortunate. I want them to know that, and to live that in humility, so if it takes some time to explain thankfulness with a should-be Christmas tree and some place cards, so be it.
I have loved hearing her little answers. Some that you would expect from a four-year-old: tv, music, her favorite blankie. But, also some surprisingly deep answers: that God loves us all the time, that Jesus died on the cross for us. And that has to be what is at the root of her gratefulness because there will be times that she doesn't want to praise Him. And hopefully these little exercises in thankfulness will train her up to know that even when she doesn't have a heart full of praise, she can look around and pick out the blessings, and choose to rejoice in those.
"Enter His gates with Thanksgiving in your heart. Enter His courts with Praise."
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