Let’s face it: Gratitude is a difficult thing to master.

It’s a lot easier to feel like we deserve everything we have. To feel entitled. But gratitude goes a lot further, and it is commanded by God.

We have to make the choice to be thankful in our lives. Our tendency is to go the other way, along with the flow of everyone around us. That means that we have to be intentional about being thankful.

And when we make that choice, our kids can make that choice easier too.

Let me give you an example. We have become pretty good friends with the owner of a local restaurant. After my wife broke her ankle, our church took on the responsibility of providing several meals while she can’t walk. When our friend learned that, she decided to take part in that as well. She invited our whole family down for a meal, including desserts!

Due to the size of our family, we rarely go out to eat together, simply because it gets pretty expensive. So this was a special treat for our family, and our kids anticipated the evening all day long.

My wife and I had learned recently that our friend really enjoys roses. So our kids each gave our friend a couple of roses as a way to express our thankfulness for her gift. And we have all created cards and signed them for each of the church families that have generously provided for us while my wife keeps her foot up.

Here is the best part of all of this. Because my kids see Heather and I being intentionally thankful, they become intentionally thankful. My kids are taking an active role now in creating thank you cards for the different individuals that have helped us out. They are saying “thank you” to each other and to their mother more. They are more thankful of what they have and to others they come into contact with.

But it all begins with a choice.

We can choose to be thankful, or we can choose to not be. But when we choose to be thankful, we have no idea how wide those ripples will spread. Our acts of thankfulness and gratitude will have a lasting impact, for generations. As I learn to be more intentionally grateful, my kids learn it. It becomes a pattern in their lives that their kids will pick up and pass on too.

And, when you stop to think about it, who do you prefer to be around? Those who display gratitude? Or those who think the world owes them something?

As you and I teach our kids to be thankful, the impact will be more far-reaching than we will ever know.

The holiday of Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but there is no need to wait. Teach your kids to be thankful, and strive to be more so yourself.

Be thankful, Dad!

Be deliberate, Dad!

How do you stress the need for gratitude to your kids? You can leave your thoughts in the comments by clicking here.