I have a hoodie that says FEAST MODE. Plan on wearing hoodie.
We are talking about being thankful and giving thanks because we Americans celebrate Thanksgiving in November. Hence my hoodie. We feast on turkey (I’m ready for that amazing meal that is shared with people I love.) POINT OUT MY HOODIE. And sing high praises for all the good things that happened to us. We are more likely to share our gratitude with others during November. Being thankful fills us with an overwhelming feeling of joy.
Ask the children; what is something good they are thankful for?
Thank them for sharing.
In the bulletin we sometimes say, thanks be to God. Thanking God for his holy word.
It is easy to give thanks when things are going good.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 English Standard Version
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ask the children to tell you about something bad or hard that happened to them.
Thank them for sharing.
It’s hard to be thankful when bad things happen.
God isn’t punishing us when these bad things happen. That’s just life. Our loved ones leave us. People pick on us and hurt our feelings. The car breaks down. The kitchen floods. It just never ends. It is so easy for us to get mad at God and scream at him. Question him.
Ask the children, have you ever got mad at God?
It’s okay. Scream at him. Ask him questions. Talk to him. And he will help you work out the whys. He will help you find out a way to be thankful in the hard times. The important thing is never stop talking to God. Never stop searching for those thankfuls.
Let’s pray,
Lord,
It is easy to be thankful when life is good. Help us to be thankful when life is hard. When the bully in the lunch room is picking on us. When our loved ones die. When we miss the bus or fail a test. There is always something to be thankful for. Help us seek and understand.
Amen
