By:
Carolyn
Tomlin
Johnny comes in from school,
tosses his books on a table, and turns on the computer for video games. In
comes, Mom, who offers a snack, then says, “Johnny, please take out the trash
before dinner. Pick-up day is tomorrow.”
“Why do I have to be the one to
take out the trash?” he says with a frown on his face. “Let someone else do
it!”
As parents, we are our child’s
first and best teacher. God planned for families. It is our responsibility to
teach and train our children—for the present—and for the future. How we respond
to this, and simpler situations, will determine the attitude our children
develop. We teach more with actions, than words.
Mom could make threats and
respond in a negative outburst, such as, “Okay, if that’s your answer, no more
TV or computer games tonight. Go to your room!” Or, she could say, “Johnny,
perhaps taking out the trash isn’t your favorite chore, but we are a family,
and we each share in the work of our home. Instead, could we thank God that we
have food in our home and this food often results in containers and packages?”
A positive response is the one a child remembers when they start their own
family. As we observe the Thanksgiving holidays, think of ways to help your child
count their blessings. In areas where natural disasters, such as hurricanes,
earthquakes, or tornadoes occur, family possessions are reduced to rubble.
Nothing is left…not even a simple shelter. People are
in shock, as they’ve lost their
homes, pets, livestock, and often family members. Let your child hear you say,
“Thank you God that we have a home that shelters our family.”
In war torn countries, displaced
people and refugees fight hungercold, disease, and fear the unknown. Thousand
are dying, many of which are women and children. Let your child hear you say,
“Thank you God for a freedom from fear. Thank you that we have food on our
table, warm houses in winter, and people who work to keep our communities
safe.” We take for granted, simple things like clean drinking water. In
areas,hit by hurricanes, one of the aftermaths of the storm is disease,
especially a cholera epidemic. Say, “Thank you God for clean drinkingmwater.”
Counting our blessings is not
limited to Thanksgiving, but it’s a time to help children realize the gifts
that God provides. Instead of using negative comments when children don’t carry
out our wishes, try turning the phrase into a positive approach. Like a
snowball rolling downhill,
one family can influence others…
and others. Let it begin with your home.
Carolyn Tomlin
writes for the magazine and newspaper market, She is the author of Writing
Books for Children and Youth, available on Amazon and Kindle. Email: tomlinm@bellsouth.net.
