Thank You God For My Spoon

My middle child, the older of my two daughters, was only two when she ended our blessings for our food with her own words: “…and thank you, God, for the plates, the salt and pepper, and my SPOON. Amen.” (The specifics changed daily.) I thought this habit was precious and endearing, as did friends who were witness to her spontaneous words of gratitude.

As I thought more about it, however, I began to appreciate her simple, yet profound, words of gratitude for the many things we, as adults, tend to overlook, or take for granted. I also began to realize how important it is for our wee ones to witness our own feelings of gratitude throughout the day, not just at mealtime.

I had the habit of thanking God for unusual things and at strange times: a parking space up close during a rain storm, getting up in the morning without ‘bed head’, ears to hear the birds singing, and on and on. It was perfectly understandable that she would “learn what she lived”, as that is what children do.

It is my hope that you help your little sponge begin to appreciate the wonder of God’s love for us. My prayers of gratitude were simple and straightforward: “Look at that! God, you are so good! You gave us a parking space close to the door so we won’t get so wet! Thank you, God.”

Think about your day and it may surprise you how many opportunities you have to be grateful and let your child witness it. I used our senses often (eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and hands). At lunch, it may have been after the blessing that I’d say, “Thank you, God, for my tongue so that I can taste this yummy peanut butter and jelly.” As we played with toys or play dough, “Thank you, God, for my hands to play.”

When you hear about a friend or loved one being ill, thank God for your and your child’s good health. Thank God for keeping you safe on a trip. I recall my younger daughter thanking her Heavenly Father for her warm cozy blanket after her usual bedtime prayer.

Give your child the gift of knowing that there is a Friend who stays closer than a brother and cares about her all the time. That means she never has to feel alone and that even when you can’t be with her, her Friend can. And never forget that children learn what they live. If you never let your wee one see your gratitude, how will she know you are thankful? Remember to share with someone less fortunate than yourself regularly. If you made a food box, be sure to let your child go with you to deliver it.

Have a wonderful season of giving thanks. I am grateful for The Southside Messenger, Averett, Evan, Linda, etc., but most of all for you, the reader. Without you, there would be no paper. God bless you and yours now and always. Thank you, God. Amen.

© 2013 Brenda Holland-Robinson