My children are 15, 13, and 10…and though I have been prodding them to say please and thank you, yes ma’am and no sir since they were about 6 months of age, to this day they still don’t always get it right.

 Manners are so yesterday. When did that happen? Was it when we went to casual Fridays? Casual church? Made our friends on the computer or iPhone? I wasn’t allowed to call my parent’s friends by their first name…it was Mr. Smith and Mrs. Gonzales. My kids have adopted a weird sort of compromise, calling our friends by their title and first name. Miss Jackie, Dr. Doug…what the heck is that?

 And grateful? Not exactly. My husband and I are not wealthy by any stretch, but we are comfortable. As such, I am able to buy groceries a week at a time, and for a family of 5 plus all the neighborhood kids and entertaining of guests…it makes for a full basket at Wal-Mart or United.

 A few months ago, I drove into the driveway as I do on most Saturdays, waiting for my kids to help me unload the trunk. They began complaining about having to unload so many groceries. Well, we stopped things right there for a “teachable moment.” Don’t your kids just love those? My teens especially treasure them. You see, comments like that 5 years ago would have irritated me, but comments like that in today’s economy where almost 1 in every 5 adults seeking employment can’t find a job…getting red and scowling just thinking about it. 

How do we do it? How do we teach our children to appreciate things? Jim and I already have them work for their spending money and buy their own “extras.” They help with fundraisers that get them get to summer church camp every year. Last week I even had them write down three things each day that they were thankful for and we discussed it in the evenings sometimes.

But here is what I have found works even better. Drive through a less fortunate part of town. Let your children see the plight of the orphan or single mother struggling with three jobs…then and only then do they begin to comprehend a grateful spirit. That and pray for them to have a heart of compassion…one that gives a hand up to those less fortunate. 

The truth is this is a good lesson for all of us. Living in America in this millennium…we are so blessed. How often do you say thank you each day to the sovereign God who gives you breath? To Him who does such big things as provide you with a job and food and such small things as a front row parking spot? Maybe this is a good reminder for us all…say thank you more. Don’t take your Provider for granted…or your husband…or your children. Life is too short. Say Thank You Dangit.