Thankful or Wantful?

Halloween is tomorrow and then we will begin to think about celebrating Thanksgiving. This will be followed once again by people rushing to stores for "Black Friday Deals" and spending the following Monday looking for "Cyber Monday Deals" as well. People will very quickly turn their focus to the things they "want" . . . and this includes the children in our ministries as they think about the things they want to receive for Christmas. 

It seems like there is so little focus given to being thankful and while we might be quick to encourage children and families to take time to be truly thankful rather than focus on the things they want, how often do we actually do this ourselves? Consider the following . . . 

• How often do we stop and express genuine thanks to God - and our volunteers - for the volunteers He has given us? Do we instead complain about how we need more volunteers?
• How often do we stop and express genuine thanks to God - and our church - for the resources we have for ministry to children? Do we instead complain about how we need more money for additional resources? 
• How often do we stop and express genuine thanks to God for hearing and answering our prayers - and to our prayer warriors for their faithful prayers? Do we instead continue to ask for prayer - not that we shouldn't do this, but do we stop to be thankful for answered prayer?

These are just a few things to consider about being truly thankful rather than thinking and focusing on the the things we "want".

To help you - and those in your Children's Ministry - be focused on the "Thanks" and "Giving Thanks" all year, consider the following - 

• Each week have a specific "thing" or person for whom you give thanks as a ministry.
• Be quick to share the people and things for which you are thankful.
• Make time each time you gather with volunteers and children to spend time being thankful.
• Ask children to share the things for which they are thankful - of course this means you will hear a LOT about dogs, cats, family, etc. - but when children are able to express their thankfulness for these things, they will learn to be people who look for the things for which they are thankful and are quick to share their thankfulness.

Be a person who is known for their thankfulness - it will make a difference.