A lesson on Thankfulness

**sunshine** · 08-03-2004, 08:19 AM

Thanksgiving: A lesson on Thankfulness!

BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR JESUS (this is a GREAT idea for families!!!)

“Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you
give will be the measure you get back." Luke 6:38

Thanksgiving is generally a very busy time for most people. On this day,
try to take a few minutes to impress upon your children the generous
blessings God has poured out upon Americans. Make a small gold box or
decorate an empty box to be used as a bank. Place it in the middle of
your kitchen table and once a day for the next 38 days, you will be
placing offerings into it. Decide with the children to whom you wish to
give this gift (a nearby shelter or food bank, your Church missions fund
or perhaps the Red Cross organization). On Epiphany, when according to
tradition, the Kings gave their gifts to the Christ Child, you can give
the gift away. Each day, the children will be able to reflect upon their
blessings.

This could be done as a sermon or children's lesson, at a Bible Study
etc. (I think we're going to assemble this creatively to sell at next
year's Church Craft/Bake sale - ~Dori~)

DAY 1 (The Friday after Thanksgiving) - One out of 5 American children
live in poverty, lacking adequate clothing. Give 2¢ for each pair of
socks, tights and pantyhose each child has.

DAY 2 - Are you thankful for the blessing of electricity? Give 2¢ for
each light bulb in your house.

DAY 3 - Would you rather live in the dim light of candles? Be thankful
for them, too. Give 2¢ for each candle in your house.

DAY 4 - Most of the world's population lives beyond the reach of medical
care. Give 10¢ for each box of Band-Aids in your house. Give an extra
dime if they're not skin-colored.

DAY 5 - Are you thankful you have a roof and doors to keep out the wind
and rain? Give 10¢ for every exterior door your house has.

DAY 6 - Are you thankful for your clothes? Give a nickel for every closet
in your house.

DAY 7 - Are you glad you have indoor plumbing? How about the toilet paper
that goes with it?
Give 5¢ for each roll of TP in your house, counting all stored away
rolls.

DAY 8 - To people in refugee camps, even a thin sliver of soap is
precious. How many bars of soap does your family have? Give 5¢ for each
bar. Also give 10¢ for each container of pump soap.

DAY 9 - Think of something nice you can do for a poor family in your
community and do it today. Maybe give them some homemade bread or make
something special for them to brighten their day. If you can't, put a
dollar in the box and be exceedingly grateful for all of your own
blessings.

DAY 10 - Do you walk to your town to get a bucket of water for washing,
drinking, bathing, and cooking? Or are you blessed with faucets that
bring precious water to you? Give 10 ¢ for each faucet. Don't forget the
outside ones!

DAY 11 - Still thinking of water, how did you get clean today? Give 10¢
if you took a bath and
20¢ if you took a shower.

DAY 12 - Most of the world is starving while Americans biggest concern is
being overweight! Put in 1¢ for each pound your mother and father thinks
that they are overweight.

DAY 13 - What a blessing to be able to see and have eye doctors to help
us! Put in 10¢ for each pair of glasses your family members wear, don't
forget sunglasses.

DAY 14 - Many people in the world are blind and do not have doctors to
help them. Give 5¢ for
each person in your house that wears contact lens.

DAY 15 - Jesus loved the little children. Give thanks, and 10¢ for every
child in your family. Do a secret good deed for each one of them today.

Day 16 - How would you like to live in your car as some families have to
do? Give 10¢ for every car in your family.

DAY 17 - What if you lived on the streets like so many in South America
do? Give thanks for your home and give 5¢ for every pillow in your house.
Count the decorative ones, too.

DAY 18 - Epidemics often follow natural disasters. Give thanks if no one
in your house has been too sick this month to go to work or school, and
give 50¢.

DAY 19 - The comfort of a clean bed is an undreamed of luxury for
millions of the world's poor people. Give 5¢ for each bed in your house.

DAY 20 - Did a cozy blanket cover you last night? Give a penny for every
blanket in your home.

DAY 21 - Was it cold enough to wear a coat today? Were you thankful for
your coat? Give a penny for every coat, raincoat, and jacket in your
house.

DAY 22 - In some countries of the world, most of the people can't read.
Are you thankful you can read? Put in a penny for each children's book
in your home (sorry homeschooler, this may be quite an expensive day).

DAY 23 - By now, you have received Christmas cards from many loving
friends and family members. Give a penny for each card, and give thanks
to God for love.

DAY 24 - Most of the world's population has never seen a supermarket.
Instead they scratch out their sustenance with primitive tools. Give 5¢
for every garden tool in your garage.

DAY 25 - Most people in the world cook over an open fire. Aren't you glad
your parents didn't send you out to chop wood this morning? Give 5¢ for
every burner on your stove and 5¢ for every oven.

DAY 26 - Aren't you glad you have people that love and think about you?
Put in 5¢ for every gift under the tree that is for you.

DAY 27 - Jesus was born and died for you! Put in 20¢ for every Bible in
your home and give a prayer of thanks that you live in a country that
allows you to be a Christian.

DAY 28 - Unfortunately this is the time of the year in which many people
suffer loss in house fires. Give 10¢ for every phone in your house from
which you can call 911 in the case of an emergency.

DAY 29 - Many people in the world suffer excruciating pain from the lack
of dental care. Have you ever been grateful for toothbrushes? Give 5¢ for
each toothbrush in your house.

DAY 30 - Do you have a pet? Many people in the world can't even feed
themselves, let alone a pet. Give 25¢ for your pet. If you live on a farm
and have any other animals, give a penny for each additional animal your
family has.

DAY 31 - Many children in the world barely get one meal a day. How many
did you have? Give thanks and 5c for each meal.

DAY 32 - Would you like to have to walk to school, to church or to the
store? Most people in the world walk wherever they go. Give 10¢ for each
bike, pair of skates, skateboard or anything else with wheels you have at
your house.

DAY 33 - " Give us this day our daily bread." Thank God for feeding you
today and give one penny for every slice of bread your family ate today.

DAY 34 - Count all the cans in your cupboard or pantry. Give a penny for
each one of them as you thank God for the technology to preserve and can
foods.

DAY 35 - Count all the packages of frozen foods and meats in your
freezer. Thank God for refrigeration and give a penny for each you
counted.

DAY 36 - Make a list of all the fruits and vegetables God created that
you can name. Put a penny in for each of them on your list.

DAY 37 - Many children in the world do not have a school to go to and
barely learn to read or write. Give a penny for every pencil in your
house.

DAY 38 - Most people in the world have never touched a computer. If there
is a computer in your house, put in 50¢ for each one of them. Count those
Palm Pilots and electronic organizers also.