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    students struggle with gratitude
katie brazelton
From power-struggles with parents to navigating first romances, students experience a myriad of emotions. Within all the turbulence of growing up, one of the most difficult feelings and thought processes for them to unpack is GRATITUDE. Below I've outlined ways for you, as youth workers, to successfully connect the message of gratitude to your students through real-life examples and tips on how to incorporate gratitude into their own lives.
Charlotte Smith Taylor exudes gratitude. Charlotte was thrilled to sink the winning shot in the 1994 national championship game, giving the University of North Carolina its first women's collegiate basketball title. She feels that she has been handpicked by God for the WNBA to use basketball as a platform to share her faith in Jesus Christ with fans, especially children. Charlotte is grateful for every opportunity she has to share Jesus Christ because she knows that when she does so, she gives life to others. She is also grateful for a family who loves the Lord as much as she does and for the wonderful Christian husband God recently gave her.
Charlotte's advice is, Try to give thanks to God in everything you do. Develop an attitude of gratitude. That will help you smile and do things as though you are doing them for him.
What fills a student's heart with gratitude? Taking an inventory of the small miracles in an ordinary day can help drive them to a feeling of gratitude. Are they grateful for the friend who comforted them after a breakup? The parent who lent them the car? The counselor who recommended the perfect book to touch their heart? The much-needed postponement of a test? It's easy to fall into the trap of praying for a positive outcome, Dear Lord help me pass this test; help me get into the college of my choice, etc., but it's harder to just give thanks.
When it comes to cultivating a practice of gratitude, consider incorporating these three practices which can be woven into a powerful sermon, used within a mentoring dialog, or adapted as an exercise within a small group:
Keep a gratitude journal - Each day record at least three things that you are grateful for. Even on the most challenging days, most of us can be grateful for God's love, food, and shelter.
Share your gratitude; it's contagious Make it a practice each day to act grateful whether it's returning a smile, giving a compliment, or writing a thank-you letter.
Service - Express your thankfulness through a specific act of service. Work with your youth group at a homeless shelter or volunteer to read at a local hospital or offer to help a younger sibling with homework.
There are countless biblical examples of Jesus' miracles, but share the story of the ten lepers with students to challenge them to express gratitude. Luke 17:15-17: One of the ten lepers, when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked himand he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
Consider sharing the following prayer and saying it to yourself, as well, to focus on gratitude:
Dear Lord Jesus, your Word says that only one of the ten lepers, a lowly Samaritan amidst nine Jews, came back when he saw that he was healed. That grateful man praised God in a loud voice, threw himself at your feet, and thanked you. Jesus, I never want you to ask me, Were you not cleansed too? Where are you? Today I throw myself at your feet, filled with gratitude for how you have cleansed me and for all you have done for me. I ask you to remind me constantly of all the other things I have to be grateful for. Fill me with an abundance of gratitude.
http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/community-articles-from-the-field.html
katie brazelton
From power-struggles with parents to navigating first romances, students experience a myriad of emotions. Within all the turbulence of growing up, one of the most difficult feelings and thought processes for them to unpack is GRATITUDE. Below I've outlined ways for you, as youth workers, to successfully connect the message of gratitude to your students through real-life examples and tips on how to incorporate gratitude into their own lives.
Charlotte Smith Taylor exudes gratitude. Charlotte was thrilled to sink the winning shot in the 1994 national championship game, giving the University of North Carolina its first women's collegiate basketball title. She feels that she has been handpicked by God for the WNBA to use basketball as a platform to share her faith in Jesus Christ with fans, especially children. Charlotte is grateful for every opportunity she has to share Jesus Christ because she knows that when she does so, she gives life to others. She is also grateful for a family who loves the Lord as much as she does and for the wonderful Christian husband God recently gave her.
Charlotte's advice is, Try to give thanks to God in everything you do. Develop an attitude of gratitude. That will help you smile and do things as though you are doing them for him.
What fills a student's heart with gratitude? Taking an inventory of the small miracles in an ordinary day can help drive them to a feeling of gratitude. Are they grateful for the friend who comforted them after a breakup? The parent who lent them the car? The counselor who recommended the perfect book to touch their heart? The much-needed postponement of a test? It's easy to fall into the trap of praying for a positive outcome, Dear Lord help me pass this test; help me get into the college of my choice, etc., but it's harder to just give thanks.
When it comes to cultivating a practice of gratitude, consider incorporating these three practices which can be woven into a powerful sermon, used within a mentoring dialog, or adapted as an exercise within a small group:
Keep a gratitude journal - Each day record at least three things that you are grateful for. Even on the most challenging days, most of us can be grateful for God's love, food, and shelter.
Share your gratitude; it's contagious Make it a practice each day to act grateful whether it's returning a smile, giving a compliment, or writing a thank-you letter.
Service - Express your thankfulness through a specific act of service. Work with your youth group at a homeless shelter or volunteer to read at a local hospital or offer to help a younger sibling with homework.
There are countless biblical examples of Jesus' miracles, but share the story of the ten lepers with students to challenge them to express gratitude. Luke 17:15-17: One of the ten lepers, when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked himand he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
Consider sharing the following prayer and saying it to yourself, as well, to focus on gratitude:
Dear Lord Jesus, your Word says that only one of the ten lepers, a lowly Samaritan amidst nine Jews, came back when he saw that he was healed. That grateful man praised God in a loud voice, threw himself at your feet, and thanked you. Jesus, I never want you to ask me, Were you not cleansed too? Where are you? Today I throw myself at your feet, filled with gratitude for how you have cleansed me and for all you have done for me. I ask you to remind me constantly of all the other things I have to be grateful for. Fill me with an abundance of gratitude. |
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