Kroner Ministries: equipping the saints for the work of the minsitry

From the Creative Parenting post that I subscribe to, comes this nugget of truth. I think it is a great subject to address, and an important concept for kids and parents to get hold of! Enjoy!
DK

10 Signs Your Raising An Un-Thankful kid…

1. He screams for carrots when you try to feed him peas
2. He gets up from the dinner table without offering to help clear the dishes
3. He never says thank you after you slave over a hot cooked meal
4. He complains when he is asked to share his stuff with brother or sister
5. He is never satisfied with last year’s Members Only jacket and parachute pants, he has to have the new Genera fall line
6. You have to use a bribe or scream to the top of your lungs to get him to do routine chores
7. He “expects” new clothes, shoes and backpack for school
8. He complains about having to work
9. He is unmoved by simple acts of generosity or financial support
10. He misses out on the joy of living life because he always “wants” more

I am convinced that kids are typically not thankful because parents have not led them to walk in gratitude and thankfulness.  That’s right!  Parents, this is a character quality that has to be nurtured, taught and fostered.  And this takes hard, in the trenches and consistent work.

Here is a simple idea that might help get your kids on the right track…

Each morning have your kids sit down and write out 2 things they are thankful for.  Ask your kids to write this down on a piece of paper, fold it up, put it in their pocket and keep it with them all day.  You can encourage them to pull it out throughout the day to serve as a reminder of what they are thankful for.  Ask them to pray each time they pull out the paper and ask God to develop a heart of gratitude in them.  Then, at family dinner or later that evening be sure to have your kids explain what they wrote down.  I encourage all parents to do this on a somewhat regular basis and I believe you will begin to see a heart change.

If your kiddos are too young to write, have this conversation with them on a regular basis.  As parents, we should “build” gratitude into them at a very young age.