Tuesday, July 12, 2011

learning how to raise grateful kids

Even a 3.5-yr-old and a 1.5-yr-old can express gratitude, with a little help.  
Starting now, early, writing down gifts together
that they may treasure the Giver of all good gifts from their youth… 
and that I may learn and grow up with them in this grace of gratitude-giving





#350-365 of the continual river of gifts:
Neon post-its of gifts stuck on our windows

Kids learning early how to count gifts

Colossians repetition of gratitude: Ch. 1 “giving joyful thanks”, Ch. 2 “overflowing with thanksgiving”, Ch. 3 “and be thankful...”

A new day with its own brand-new mercies sufficient for everything it will hold

A morning walk, filled with birds and birdsong

Boys quietly playing together

No squabbles!

An orange Dr. Seuss-esque watering can


The fall of fresh water on plants



Little hands held out to catch the droplets


Shrieks of delight

The blessing of running water.  Full stop.  (I will never take it for granted again!)

Jesus, the River of Living Water; Jesus, the River-Maker

Him, the River-Maker, living in my soul-garden

Never soul-thirsting again!




On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 



"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.



"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 



'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' " 



John 7:37-38





1 comment:

  1. Carolyn! You are such a bosom friend to me! I just posted about the same thing...

    ReplyDelete