I like bacon, too, but...

I’ve preached it over and over to my kids.  It’s one of our three “house rules”.  Never miss the opportunity to say thank you.  I’m certain they get it on a mechanical level, at least.  Someone hands you something, whether it’s breakfast, a birthday present or what have you; you respond accordingly with a polite, “thank you.”  Understanding what it means to actually be thankful, that’s another story all together!

Gratitude and thankfulness are concepts that go further than just saying the words.  And they go way beyond the idea of just “liking” something. Such as bacon, which seems to be something this group is quite fond of… Not surprising, bacon was indeed one of the things for which our Girls said they were “grateful” – or at least the response that got the most cheers.  However, I couldn’t have imagined what a set-up line this would actually turn out to be for today’s lesson!  Once the crowd settled, I turned to one of our “veteran” members for her take on the difference.  What I got was perfect:

“I like bacon, but I’m grateful that someone’s provided me with this food.” 

I love these Girls!  Too often we don’t give young people credit for what they know and can teach each other.  Or what they can teach us.  Personally, I don’t eat bacon any longer.  But as a grown-up I do appreciate - and am indeed grateful for - the effort it takes to even get the food in the house, much less on the table. 

Gratitude is a character trait that’s earned, rather than learned.  Allow your Girl to “earn her keep”, so to speak, or work for something she wants, no matter how small it might be.  Let them pack their lunch, do some laundry, or another generally thankless task.  Gaining the appreciation of what it takes to “earn” will go a long way toward their understanding of what it really means to be grateful.

(Oh, and the other house rules: Never pass up free food, or the chance to go to the bathroom.  Just in case you were wondering!)