“Now I’d like to go around the class and have each one of you tell me one thing that you are thankful for,” Justin’s Sunday school teacher said. “Katrina, will you start?”
Katrina said, “I’m thankful for the sunshine because it is so nice and warm when I go out to play.”
Lance was next. “I’m thankful for good food, especially hamburgers.” Everybody laughed because they already knew that Lance’s favorite food was hamburgers.
“I’m thankful for my mommy and daddy,” Suzie said next.
“I’m thankful that God made the pretty flowers and trees,” said Margie.
Then it was Justin’s turn. “I’m thankful for my cowboy boots.” He stopped, and then went on. “Could I tell you all why I’m thankful?”
His teacher nodded. “Of course, Justin. We’d love to hear.”
Justin explained. “I’ve wanted cowboy boots for a long, long time. I even told Mom I would give her my allowance for two whole months if she would get me some. But she said they just cost too much money. Daddy hasn’t been able to work since he hurt his back, and we have to use our money for food and stuff like that.”
“Mom told me to pray about it, so I did. Every night I asked God to help me find a way to get some cowboy boots. And He heard! You know what? Last week Mrs. Jensen, who lives next door to us, brought over a sack of things that had belonged to her grandson. She thought maybe we could use them. And right at the bottom of the sack were … these!” Justin stuck his feet out from under his chair so everyone could see the shiny brown boots.
Justin’s teacher smiled. “Justin, thank you so much for sharing this with us. We are so happy to hear how God answered your prayer. Isn’t He good to us?”
Justin nodded soberly. “I just wish there was something I could do to show God that I love Him.”
“Very well,” said his teacher. “Could you please put these Bible-story books back on the shelf?” Justin got up and put the books back. “Now, please pass these attendance charts out to everyone in the class.” Again, Justin did as he was told.
“Do you know what you just did, Justin?” she asked as he took his seat. “By being a helper to me, you were saying thank you to God. Whenever you help other people, you are helping God. It is a good thing to be thankful to God. And being a willing helper is one of the very best ways to say thank you!”
Parent’s Corner
“Giving thanks to God,” has been chosen as the theme for the next unit of lessons. The unit opens with a general lesson on the importance of being thankful.
This week, help your child make a scratch picture showing something for which he is thankful. Using one or more bright colors, have him color an entire sheet of paper. Then have him color over this with a black crayon.
Take a sharply pointed instrument and scratch a picture, removing the top layer of black to reveal the bright colors underneath. Be sure to have him scratch a title on his work.
FAMILY DEVOTIONS
Verses to help your child understand this Bible lesson.
Sunday: Psalm 92:1
Monday: Hebrews 13:15
Tuesday: Psalm 35:18
Wednesday: 1 Chronicles 16:8
Thursday: 1 Peter 2:9
Friday: Ephesians 5:19
Saturday: Philippians 4:4