It’s that time of year, a time for us to express gratitude for all that God has given us. And He has given us much. God provides all that we have. God gives us our jobs. He provides us with places to live. He is a good God who gives us those things that we need. I know that it is God who has provided me with so much.
We must carry that attitude with us as we serve in ministry and navigate our world. It can make all the difference as we face difficult times and struggles. I think back to 2020 when my son faced some heavy medical issues. In fact, we weren’t sure he was going to make it through them. However, he would thank everyone who worked with him. Whether it was a doctor, nurse or someone who was bringing him his supper, he would offer a “thank you” to each. That attitude helped carry him and us through those difficult days.
Our job as “caring adults” is to help our children and students understand this attitude and embrace it. That is easier said than done. However, it is important that we not give up on it. Here are a few things that may help as you seek to encourage the young people in your life:
• Be the example. How often are you expressing gratitude in front of your students? We are stingy with our expressions of thankfulness. We need to thank our volunteers, our students, their parents and, most importantly, God the Father for the great things He has done. We can offer these verbal expressions while preaching or teaching our group, or simply in our day-to-day lives. Additionally, we can express gratitude through gifts, notes and cards. Let your students see you do that, not as a big show, but as an important example of who they need to be.
• Teach about gratitude. This may seem obvious, but we can often overlook the concept. We expect that our students have been taught to say “thank you” to God and others. We need to give our students a clear understanding of what the Bible has to say about gratitude. If students understand the “why,” it is more likely that they will express thankfulness.
• Encourage your students to share from a thankful heart. A good old-fashioned testimony can be a powerful thing. Give your students the space to share what they are grateful for. Give your students a prompt and help them write out their words. That action can give your students clarity of mind and greater ability to share their faith. Perhaps use “I am thankful for…” or “God is good because…”
Teaching students about gratitude can be one of the more impactful things that we can do. A spirit of gratitude can carry a student far in life. Ultimately, we have been given one of the greatest gifts, Jesus. We should be living in full celebration of that great gift.
How do you encourage and teach your students about gratitude? Join the conversation at facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity.
