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It's Great to Be Grateful!
A Kid's Guide to Being Thankful
By Michaelene Mundy, R. W. Alley Abbey Press
Copyright © 2012 Michaelene Mundy
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9656-3
CHAPTER 1
What It Means to Be Grateful
Being grateful means you notice something good that has happened or is happening in your life. It might be something that just happened, like your mother fixing your favorite supper and it's not even your birthday.
When you take time to be thankful, ordinary things can become special: a cupcake tastes better if you slow down and enjoy it. Remembering that someone took the time to bake them is another reason to be grateful.
Why Be Thankful?
It is hard to be thankful and sad — or angry — at the same time. Being thankful can make you feel good. Paying attention to the little things we have and the little things that happen can turn a boring day into a special day or an ordinary meal into a feast.
It is important to let others know when you are thankful for something they did for you or made happen. Even GOD likes to know when you are thankful. At the end of the day you can thank God for your family, your friends, or for things like snow that you had fun in.
Being Thankful Is a Gift!
You "honor" or "show your respect" for someone when you notice them or what they do for you and then show or tell them that you are thankful with a smile or a hug and a "Thank you."
We can also hurt people's feelings by not being thankful. Did you ever do something special for someone — like holding the door open or carrying something for someone — and they didn't even notice? Did it make you feel sad?
It feels good when others say "Thanks" to you. It is like someone giving a gift to you.
How to Be Thankful
You can show your thanks with a note, an email, or a text. You can even stop the fun thing you are doing for a moment and whisper a thanks to God.
It isn't hard to be thankful. It does take a little time, though. It is a wonderful habit to notice when things are good and quietly say to yourself the feelings that are in your heart.
Sometimes we find it easier to say "Please," than "Thank you." We say "Please" when we are asking for good things we want for ourselves and for others. Saying "Thank you" can be every bit as important.
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Excerpted from It's Great to Be Grateful! by Michaelene Mundy, R. W. Alley. Copyright © 2012 Michaelene Mundy. Excerpted by permission of Abbey Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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