Connect with us!
BUILDING FAITH CONSTRUYENDO FÉ
  • Welcome
  • ¡Bienvenidos!
  • 2025: Vivir a la Manera de JESÚS
  • 2025: Living the Jesus Way
  • 2024: AÑO DE INTENCIONALIDAD
  • 2024: Year of Intentionality
    • 2023: A Closer Look >
      • 2023: Una Mirada Más Cercana >
        • Presencia de Dios
        • El Padrenuestro
        • Haciendo Lo Correcto
        • La Historia del Origen de Jesús
  • Past Practices/Prácticas Pasadas
    • 2022: Taste the Story >
      • 2021: Little Habits, Big Impact >
        • 2020: Children of the Faith
      • Holy Week At Home
    • 2022: Prueba la Historia
    • COVID-19 : Making Faith Sense in Strange Times
    • God's Story, God's Song
    • LENT AT HOME
    • Advent at Home 2023
    • Adviento en Casa 2023
    • Advent/Advenimiento 2024
  • Who we are
  • Quienes Somos
  • Get Connected - Conectese
  • Additional Resources

Thankful Rocks 

A month after the rush of Christmas presents, sometimes a general discontentment sets in. The novelty of the new wears off, the winter months begin to drag on, and we begin to hear, “I want…” Gratitude and contentment are difficult to teach children, especially those who have not been deprived of the necessities of life. But thankfulness is an integral part of our faith. As people created by God, we give God thanks for God’s steadfast love in all circumstances.
Read It  
Psalm 118:1 
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his steadfast love endures forever.      -NRSV
Picture
Picture
Do It
Our children’s grandparents gave them a Little Critter (Mercer Mayer) book called “Being Thankful”.
In it, Little Critter has a general spirit of discontentment - he gets an ice cream cone, but his friend gets an ice cream Sunday, he wants a new scooter instead of his old one...sound familiar? His parents send him to his grandparents, who give him a “thankful rock,” a painted rock to carry in his pocket that reminds him to be grateful for what he has. We tried the following with our pre-schooler, and while it hasn’t been magic, it has given us something to point to, a reminder and common language for practicing contentment.
  1. Gather a few small stones, one for each member of your family, and some paints.
  2. Paint each stone a different color or design, so each person has their own distinctive rock.
  3. Read the scripture passage together, and name God’s gifts - food, shelter, creativity, love of family, and most of all, God’s love for you that never ends. Get specific with your family - certain things or people you’re grateful for.
  4. Give each person their rock. When we start to want more than we have, we feel this rock in our pockets, or get it out and look at it, and remember that while it’s okay to want things, we also need to be contented with what we have - and grateful for God’s love and good gifts.  

Picture
Pray It 
God, you have given us many good gifts. Thank you for always loving us. Help us remember to be thankful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Extras
Reasons and tips for practicing gratitude with children 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-reiser/11-tips-for-instilling-true-gratitude-in-your-kids_b_4708019.html

Like what you see? Sign up to get our bi-weekly emails.

* indicates required
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.