Gratitude in a Song!

I know that most parents try to instill a sense of gratitude in their children all year long. Still, November is usually a month that we really shine a light on thankfulness and gratitude.

Many parents work hard at helping their children learn to be grateful for the things in life that money cannot buy. Material things can come and go, lose their appeal over time, can break down or not provide happiness in the way that we intially thought they could. But, the things that tend to last and bring us happiness for the duration, are things that cannot be bought.

Then there's gratitude for the things that are the basics...like our health, a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Things that are hardly something that kids will want to rejoice about...unless they've gone without and know the alternative.

There is a favorite book of mine that teaches kids gratitude ALL YEAR LONG. The book, "Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks", comes complete with a CD of an original recording by Art Garfunkel.

The book, with beautiful, heart-warming illustrations, pays homage to such things as heart that can hold love, warm houses, family and friends, dancing and singing. The book also points out that we may hope or dream for more, but that giving thanks for what we have makes us much more happier than keeping score.

Now, that's a good lesson for folks big and small! And the best part about it, is that you can get the book for almost a song! (Something to be yet more thankful for in today's economic times!)