This is my favorite time of year. I love cooler weather (which for us means the 70′s), apple cider and pumpkin pie. As this months brings us Thanksgiving, I wanted to spend time with the boys focusing on what it means to be thankful. We’ve recently studied in homeschool the story of the Pilgrim’s and their life that first year in America. We learned about the Native Americans who helped them learn how to live in this land, particularly Squanto. And we’ve learned about that first Thanksgiving Day.

This month, we are focusing even more of our thoughts on gratitude. The Psalms contain some of the best words of praise to God for all He has done. During our devotional time, we are reading passages of thanksgiving. Here’s a couple of favorites:

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with
thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Praise be to you, O Lord,

God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the
kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and
honor come from you;

you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God,
we give you thanks,

and praise your glorious name.

We have also made a “Thanksgiving Tree.” Using tree branches in a vase, we’ve hung leaf cut outs on the “tree.” Each day, we are writing on the leaves the blessings we’ve been given from God.

A heart that overflows with thanksgiving will share that abundance with others. One of the ways we like to share our abundance of grace is to participate in the shoebox drive with Samaritan’s Purse. The kids went with me and helped pick out items for the shoebox’s that Samaritan’s Purse gives to children in need at Christmas time.

Do you have any “teach me Jesus” moments to share? I would love to hear what you have done with your children.