Gratitude is More than Attitude it's a Practice

About a month ago, I decided to start spending more consistent specific time with each one of my children. Just one day a month I would pick a kid to do a date night with. This last month was Oakley's night! I had decided I would take him putt putt golfing after a nice family meal out to eat. -These out to eat excursions happen once a year with our family. WE only do it once a year because it takes us a full 365 days to magically forget how awful the previous years experience was.

But I digress, it was Oakley's night, and he wanted to share with his older brother Roman. So here we went, off into the late evening to play a quick 18 holes at prehistoric putt and then head home. When we arrived the boys were overwhelmed by all of the realistic looking dino's that surrounded the area. As we approached the counter to pick out our clubs and balls, something caught Oakley's eyes. A cute, baby pterodactyl was in a bin at the bottom of counter, calling out to him to take him home. If you know anything about my second born son, he loves all things small, cute and cuddly. He calls them creatures and loves and nurtures them as much as he can.

As soon as he spotted it I knew we would be lucky to leave this place without an argument over it. He of course had to ask to take this special creature home, and I objected explaining the lack of fairness there would be to his other siblings who would not be receiving a new toy. He responded to me with his ultimate and favorite response, -"but I've never had one Mom"-lol this response is consistent with any no I give him during the day. He then proceeded to bat his cute little eyes at me and said "please". I stood firm and responded with an additional no and proceeded to get the round of putt putt started.

It was all down hill from there, Oakley was unteachable in regards to learning or caring to learn the rules of putt putt. He committed in his heart to then blow through the course as fast as possible. This was a near impossible task when I had an additional child following behind (Roman) honestly trying to learn how to play and do his very best job. I think we made it through that course in less than 25 minutes I am sure of it. When the time came for us to call it a night, the real show was about to begin.

Oakley had not forgotten about the creature he so desperately wanted to rescue from the check-out counter. I then encouraged him to move along quickly, it was late at night we needed to get home and get to bed. He would not have it. Roman suggested we take some photos before we left, so I snapped a few photos. Oakley wasn't too thrilled following the fun photo op, so I had to physically remove Oakley from the building, while he left he went kicking and screaming out the door as if I was stranger abducting him.

In the car he received a lengthy conversation about gratitude, and what our response should be when we get a no. Oakley is typically aware of when he messes up and was quick to apologize.

This type of behavior, the lack of gratitude and being thankful for the small things has been something we have been working hard to weed out in our children. I deeply desire to help my kids become grateful for things they have. Whether its a place of abundance or lack. However I am quickly learning this characteristic in a person is not something that can be lectured into a person but shown and caught from the environment around them.

So following this experience I had to ask myself what example am I setting for my children. Do they see me be grateful in every season? In seasons of abundance do they seem me constantly pointing to the one who provided the overflow to us? In seasons of lack do they see me showing the example of a cheerful and thankful heart with the little we may have?

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes 5:17-18)