Gratitude is the Best Gift

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little,
and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick,
and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”

Today, my 6 year old asked, 'Mummy, are we rich'.  Regardless of our personal circumstances, I wanted her begin to understand gratitude. I answered, 'Yes, we are very rich. We have shoes to keep our feet warm, food to keep our tummies full and we are all healthy and we have each other. There are many people in the world who don't have any of these things. We are very lucky.' 

Gratitude is something we should be conscious of.  In a society where children are given a much coveted gift, only to see the next television advert and then immediately start asking for the next material item, we should be teaching our children that there are more important values than material goods. A child will never be satisfied when given the latest toy.  To start showing a child to appreciate what they have and give them some exposure to those who have very little is a good step forward. Another idea is for us ask our children to think of three things they are grateful for each day.  

To give a child an understanding of gratitude is possibly the best gift you can give them.

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach