Lessons from Little Ones

Thanksgiving is next week!  Did that statement catch you off guard as much as it did me?  "Forgetting" Thanksgiving is somewhat easy to do.  Just go to a store and check out the huge array of Christmas decorations that have been out since October if you're not quite sure what I mean.  

My toddler is very aware of Christmas this year.  It only took one trip out (last month, might I add) for him to announce to the entire store, "It's CHRISTMAS!"  Now, I love Christmas as much as the next person.  All the Christmas decorating, baking, eggnog, and preparations kind of make me giddy.  If it weren't for my husband, Mr. Grinch (a title that he bears with pride), Christmas music would fill our house right now!  I'm finding Christmas to be especially exciting this year because, for the first time, my son now understands that it's Jesus' birthday.  

It just seems that, in the hubbub of Christmas preparations, our society glides right past Thanksgiving without so much as a second glance.   Or, perhaps it's just me?  Maybe we forget that Thanksgiving is an important holiday too.   It's a time to stop and thank God for the many, many blessings that He has given.  It's a time to dwell on all that God has done and is doing in our lives.  I really want to be a person who appreciates Thanksgiving.  I would love to pass that appreciation on to my children.  

For those of you who do not know me, I'm a very sentimental person.  You know, like the person who has movie ticket stubs from the first date stashed away. Or, the kind of person who keeps band aids from the baby's first shots at the doctors in the baby book because it was the first.  Yes, it's that bad but...  I digress. 

Being so sentimental is perhaps the reason I thrive on creating great memories and making new traditions with my family.  Holidays are the opportune time to do so!  Christmas excitement is being put to the curbside at our house for a little while, though.  I want to stop for a moment and dwell on giving thanks.  

My son love animals and, since turkeys are a well-known symbol this time of year, we made a "thankful turkey."  My little turkey (aka: Wyatt) loved the activity so much that we may do this for many years to come...well, until my boys are too "cool" for such things.  

One of the great perks about being a mother are the many lessons that God presents through the form of our children.   Who would have thought that God would have something to teach me while doing a craft with my son?

Growing up, my family had a tradition of each person sharing one thing they were thankful for before we ate our Thanksgiving meal.  I had a love/hate relationship with that tradition because I would sit and try to think of something profound to share.  One person would start and and my mind would race.  What was I thankful for?!  Am I the only one that ever felt that moment of panic?  Maybe.  Still, sad as it may be, it's true.  

That memory came to mind while Wyatt and I worked together.  For each turkey feather, I asked him to tell me what he is thankful for.  Keep in mind that Wyatt is three.  He has no inhibitions or desires to impress.  

"Wyatt, what is something that you want to thank God for today?"

I watched as his little brow wrinkled in intense thought.  

"Umm... for Thomas the Train.  And birthday cake too!"

I stifled a giggle.  "That's silly," I thought, as my pen glided across the colorful, paper feather.

Is it, though?   I paused.   I mean, what's wrong with being thankful for Thomas the Train and birthday cake?  Those are two things that he loves right now.  With each feather, Wyatt would think of something else.  With each thing he named, my smile grew bigger.  It was a joy to listen to his little heart.  

God used my son to gently remind me to be thankful for everything. It doesn't have to be profound.  It can be as simple as finding a great parking spot, that piece of chocolate from the trick-or-treat bag (don't tell on me), or the time spent making something as simple as a paper turkey.

What are you thankful for today?

"...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ephesians 5:20

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, LADIES!