• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Faith
    • Kids in the Word
  • Motherhood
    • Depression
    • Recipes
  • Homeschooling
    • Printables
    • Curriculum
    • History
    • Math
    • Science

The Pelsers

A Shelter for the Heart

By Amanda Pelser

Be Thankful: What is Thanks?

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure statement here.
Pin173
Share2
Tweet6
181 Shares

Be-Thankful-What-is-Thanks

What is Thanks?

Welcome to the first post in the study of thankfulness. If you're going to teach your kids to be thankful, they have to first understand what being thankful is. Let's start with the definition of thanks:

THANKS, n. generally in the plural.
Expression of gratitude; an acknowledgment made to express a sense of favor or kindness received. Gratitude is the feeling or sentiment excited by kindness; thanks are the expression of that sentiment.

“thanks.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.

Thankfulness is an attitude of expressing gratitude. So what does gratitude mean?

GRAT'ITUDE, n. [L. gratitudo, from gratus, pleasing. See Grace.]
An emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thankfulness. Gratitude is an agreeable emotion, consisting in or accompanied with good will to a benefactor, and a disposition to make a suitable return of benefits or services, or when no return can be made, with a desire to see the benefactor prosperous and happy. Gratitude is a virtue of the highest excellence, as it implies a feeling and generous heart, and a proper sense of duty.

“gratitude.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.

That's a packed full definition. Essentially, gratitude is an emotion or feeling that we have towards someone who gives us something that excites us or makes us happy. Your kids may understand this by talking about Christmas or birthday gifts, but the best gift that we have been given is salvation. Jesus' incarnation, death, and resurrection is the ultimate gift and therefore deserves our ultimate thanks. Because we have been given this gift, we should express thankfulness in all areas of our lives.

Be Thankful Activity – FREE Printable

Talk about the definition of thankfulness with your kids. Discuss the ultimate reason for giving thanks and other reasons they have for being thankful. Have your kids draw and write about what is means to be thankful using these FREE printable activity sheets.

What is Thanks?

Free printable for kids to journal about what thanks is.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your email address.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

More on Thankfulness

Looking for more resources to teach your kids about Thankfulness? Take a look at this study I released at Kids in the Word… Be Thankful: Cultivating Year-Round Thankfulness.
Be-Thankful

Pin173
Share2
Tweet6
181 Shares

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Kids in the Word Tagged With: thankful, thankfulness

About Amanda Pelser

Amanda is a former church communications director turned work-at-home(schooling)-mom. She has a MA in Old Testament Studies and a BA in Bible. She's married to her high school sweetheart and they have four boys. She writes about faith, motherhood, and homeschooling at The Pelsers.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to The Pelsers!

My name is Amanda and this is my family, The Pelsers. Here you'll find a shelter for your heart in the midst of the busy and the chaos with stories about faith, motherhood, and homeschooling. Make yourself at home, take part in the conversation, and enjoy the journey!
Read more about The Pelsers...
The Pelsers in Facebook Amanda Pelser on Twitter Follow Amanda on Pinterest Amanda Pelser on Instagram
How We Saved $7,000 per Year on Health Insurance | ThePelsers.com

Footer

  • Privacy Policy
  • PR & Sponsors
  • Contact

© Copyright 2016 The Pelsers - Amanda Pelser · All Rights Reserved ·
Designed by The Multi-Taskin Mom and The Pelsers Media

Copyright© 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks