So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NASB)

Part of being thankful means that you have to realize what’s been done for you. In this life we have had so much done for us that it’s easy to take it for granted. From the moment we are born our parents, family and doctors start caring for us and “doing” for us.

Most of us have never wanted. I have never truly “wanted” for anything. I’ve never been homeless never hungry and never sick beyond cure. The more I think about being thankful and teaching our children to be thankful I keep coming back to the root of the problem……..me!

I think first I need to remember what to be thankful for, Jesus! If I want to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, that heart can only come from Jesus. And it’s only gonna come from a heart of thankfulness for what He has done for me. He redeemed me, made me right with God and took my punishment for me. If that’s not something to be thankful for then I don’t know what is.

Those traits are a life of thankfulness and gratitude. Those qualities are things that can be seen and that’s what I need. As I try to lead our family and help mold out children into being thankful children of Christ, I need for those things to be evident in my life.

These attitudes can be “caught” by the kids before they can be “taught”. They are contagious. So it is my prayer that God would strike our family with this incurable condition. The condition of love, so that our hearts will overflow with thankfulness.

“Heavenly Father,
As Ingrid and I begin this journey together give us thankful hearts. Lord help me to lead by example and with actions and not just words. Help us to put on love and to be unified in you, our relationship and our children.
Help our home to be infected with thankfulness, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and patience. Help our hearts overflow with love of you and for each other and our children. Allow these attitudes to permeate our lives and teach is to be thankful.

I’m Jesus name

Amen”