The gift of gratitude is one of the most important lessons parents can impart to their children. We live in a world where too many folks take things for granted, and gratitude should be the realization that we should express our thanks for not only the gifts we receive but also for simple kindnesses shown to us every day.
Christian parents begin by teaching their children to say thank you to God with mealtime prayers and bedtime prayers. This habit will connect to gratitude for more important things as the children see God at work in their lives.
Parents continue by encouraging even the youngest child to say “thank you” when given something. Parents re-enforce this by modeling the same thing when a child does something for them. It is in the circle of life that gratitude begets gratitude.
Learning to write thank-you notes is a vital social skill. Small children can draw a picture to include with the parent’s thank you note or write their names on a thank you card. If you begin early to teach a child, it will not be a battle when graduations, showers, and weddings come along. Email is not an appropriate thank you, nor is handing out thank you notes at church or school.
If someone cares enough to spend the time and money to purchase a gift, postage, or gas to deliver the present, that person deserves the respect of a handwritten thank you note.
A good rule of thumb for a thank you note is to thank the person for the specific gift one receives, tell how you will use the gift, and end the note by thanking the person for remembering you on the particular occasion.
When my son graduated from high school, he received a five-dollar bill from an elderly neighbor. He sent a note thanking her for the gift and adding that he would add it to his savings for a VCR. She stopped me on the street to say how much his note had meant when she had so little to give.
Remember that thank you should not only apply to gifts. Grateful people recognize the service of others. Everyone can use a kind word. Some of my most treasured possessions are letters from students who left my classroom. Pastors need to know that their sermons are not in vain. The waitress at your table can use a good tip and an expression of gratitude. Someone once told me that the best friends to make at work were secretaries and custodians. You can establish that by simply being grateful for their services.
Help your children master the art of gratitude by seeing it reflected in your life.
Gratitude has a special magic that puts a smile on the face of the recipient and joy in the giver’s heart.
“Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”