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Putting the "Thanks" in Thanksgiving
By Sandy Fleming

Smells of turkey and potatoes tickle your nostrils and invite you to the table. Sounds of football are in the background in the living room. Brown, orange and yellow centerpieces splash color on the table. The kitchen is toasty from cooking the moist turkey. Thanksgiving is a sensual holiday, with the meal as its focal point. It's easy to get caught up in the consumption and push aside the purpose of the celebration. Like any other holiday, the trappings can overshadow the meaning and it's easy to lose sight of the reason for the celebration.

Encouraging the habit of thankfulness is a year-round job, one that your family can focus on each and every day. Some call it "counting blessings"; others acknowledge God's hand in their lives; and still others make a point of saying "thank you" to show appreciation of loved ones. However you choose to do it, you'll find that building a habit of gratitude will help everyone see many things for which to be thankful. Awareness will improve with practice.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to launch a gratitude campaign. What better time to make a point of noticing and acknowledging the many good things in our lives? Many of us here in America celebrate the holiday with the traditional meal. Families and friends get together for fun and companionship. Set a good example for your children by verbalizing your thanks to those who help prepare the meal, to those whose paychecks provided the food, to those who have worked hard to raise families, and to those who clean up afterwards. In other words, nearly everyone around your table should be receiving thanks for something.

But don't stop with the meal or even this one day. Let your children see you saying thank you to those who provide you with services, like the letter carrier, the newspaper delivery person, taxi and bus drivers, and so forth. Their pleased and surprised smiles will show you that many take their work for granted, and it feels good to be appreciated. When a worker does an exceptionally good job, be sure to tell his/her superiors. Send a quick note, give a compliment to the boss, or find some other way to let the worker know that you appreciate his/her efforts. Your children are watching every move that you make, you know, and they will copy your actions later in life. Make sure they are copying commendable behavior.

Sometimes, gratitude can be shown by giving back to our communities. Try volunteering with your family at a homeless shelter, community dinner or other activity. You could visit shut-ins, play a game with a nursing home resident or find a way to help at a group home. Opportunities for helping others abound, and if you are in need of ideas for your local area, check with a church or regional volunteer center. You will receive that warm glow that comes from helping others, and everyone involved will gain a renewed appreciation for the blessings that are already in their lives. Something about helping someone less fortunate makes one appreciate blessings all the more.

Sandy Fleming is an educator, author and workshop facilitator. She resides in southern Michigan with her husband and three daughters. Sandy leads workshops for daycare providers and parents in the region, tutors students, volunteers for Girl Scouts and her church, and teaches online classes for adults and children. She loves to make new friends, so please drop her an e-mail at kids@busyparentsonline.com

 
 
 

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