We had all but one of our six children with us on Thanksgiving, and when our big kids went to meet their friends, or do whatever it is that big kids do, I thought about how thankful I was that we had all been together, sans Noah, of course. Why, though, do we have one day that we gather our thoughts and tell others what we are thankful for? Why isn't this part of our daily ritual?
I think that being thankful and coming together as a family should be far more important than other time consuming things that we do these days. After all, it takes only a moment to remember what you are thankful for each day. It only takes a phone call, text, or email, to tell someone else that you are thankful for them. Granted, there are probably not many kids who want to hear it from their parents each day, but perhaps we should throw their wishes aside, and ask, as we sit around the dinner table, what each person is thankful for - or, to make it easier with teens, what each person is happy to have. I believe that the answers will quickly morph from self-centered answers, such as video games and television, to more thoughtful ones, like family, love, and time together. And they might learn a little something about compassion, family, and values, during the quick round-table discussion.
Maybe I'm dreaming, but it won't hurt to find out.
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