Putting
the "Thanks" in Thanksgiving
By Sandy Fleming
Smells of turkey and potatoes
tickle your nostrils and invite you to the table. Sounds of
football are in the background in the living room. Brown, orange
and yellow centerpieces splash color on the table. The kitchen
is toasty from cooking the moist turkey. Thanksgiving is a
sensual holiday, with the meal as its focal point. It's easy
to get caught up in the consumption and push aside the purpose
of the celebration. Like any other holiday, the trappings can
overshadow the meaning and it's easy to lose sight of the reason
for
the celebration.
Encouraging the habit
of thankfulness is a year-round job, one that your family can
focus on each and every day. Some call it "counting blessings";
others acknowledge God's hand in their lives; and still others
make a point of saying "thank you" to show appreciation of
loved ones. However you choose to do it, you'll find that building
a habit of gratitude will help everyone see many things for
which to be thankful. Awareness will improve with practice.
Thanksgiving is a perfect
time to launch a gratitude campaign. What better time to make
a point of noticing and acknowledging the many good things
in our lives? Many of us here in America celebrate the holiday
with the traditional meal. Families and friends get together
for fun and companionship. Set a good example for your children
by verbalizing your thanks to those who help prepare the meal,
to those whose paychecks provided the food, to those who have
worked hard to raise families, and to those who clean up afterwards.
In other words, nearly everyone around your table should be
receiving thanks for something.
But don't stop with the
meal or even this one day. Let your children see you saying
thank you to those who provide you with services, like the
letter carrier, the newspaper delivery person, taxi and bus
drivers, and so forth. Their pleased and surprised smiles will
show you that many take their work for granted, and it feels
good to be appreciated. When a worker does an exceptionally
good job, be sure to tell his/her superiors. Send a quick note,
give a compliment to the boss, or find some other way to let
the worker know that you appreciate his/her efforts. Your children
are watching every move that you make, you know, and they will
copy your actions later in life. Make sure they are copying
commendable behavior.
Sometimes, gratitude can
be shown by giving back to our communities. Try volunteering
with your family at a homeless shelter, community dinner or
other activity. You could visit shut-ins, play a game with
a nursing home resident or find a way to help at a group home.
Opportunities for helping others abound, and if you are in
need of ideas for your local area, check with a church or regional
volunteer center. You will receive that warm glow that comes
from helping others, and everyone involved will gain a renewed
appreciation for the blessings that are already in their lives.
Something about helping someone less fortunate makes one appreciate
blessings all the more.
Sandy Fleming
is an educator, author and workshop facilitator. She resides
in southern Michigan with her husband and three daughters.
Sandy leads workshops for daycare providers and parents
in the region, tutors students, volunteers for Girl Scouts
and her church, and teaches online classes for adults and
children. She loves to make new friends, so please drop
her an e-mail at kids@busyparentsonline.com
