Sorry for the break in memory posts. The baby started throwing up early this morning so it has been a long day. Here is one of my most popular posts from back in 2008 to get you started on thinking about gratitude and service. Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow with new reminiscences about Miami.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. One of the main reasons is because I LOVE Thanksgiving. I think it’s wonderful to celebrate all the bounteous goodness God has blessed us with. To gather round with family and friends and enjoy good food and great company. It also helps that Thanksgiving is not so commercialized as other holidays have become.
When my oldest was 4 we started a little tradition that has helped my children focus on not only being grateful but on giving as well. We call them our Thanks & Giving trees. I print off two bare trees for each child. Every evening starting November 1st we put one leaf on each tree. On one leaf we write something we are grateful for and stick it on the Thanks Tree. On another leaf we write something we have done to serve or give to others and place it on our Giving Tree. Serving can be as simple as smiling at someone, singing a song to a crying baby, sharing a toy, or writing a letter to Grandma.
Children are so attune to what is around them. They are also innocent, caring, thoughtful, considerate. I’m always amazed every year to hear what they are thankful for and what they have found to do for others. As my children grow their thankful lists have changed becoming more thoughtful, more mature. This simple little tradition has helped us realize how wonderful life really is. It has caused our hearts to fill with gratitude for all God’s tender mercies towards us. Our eyes have been opened to the service we can do, simple as it may be, to spread kindness and goodness to others around us.
Download the file to print out your own Thanks and Giving trees as well as the leaves to go on them. Hopefully your trees will be full of service and gratitude by Thanksgiving. Wouldn’t it be fun to read what’s on them before Thanksgiving dinner?
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This is a GREAT idea. I think we will be using this idea this year. Love it!
Thank you.
Good luck and prayers to you all. Baby throw up is the worst because they always seem so confused by what’s happening to them. Peace!
We currently have a huge gratitude tree on our wall. I think I’ll be adding a “giving” aspect to help us remember service too. Thanks for the great idea! Hope Hershey feels better soon.
What a wonderful idea! This is something that the girls could do and have fun with it. It is a great idea the teach the kids in a visual way.
What a great daily activity! I love it! I shared with my fb friends because I think so many others will love it also. I think I’m going to print one out for my Primary class to do each week this month. I’m a newcomer to your blog and I am enjoying it so much! Thanks for sharing!
The other day I was looking for a good gratitude activity to do throughout this month. I found this idea through a Tip-Junkie search and it was right up my alley! Thanks!
We’ve done something like this the last 3 years or so, but this year with our move we are keeping all decorations put way. No Halloween, Thanksgiving, or (gulp) Christmas decorations this year. I miss it, but it was necessary.