STUFF: A Lesson in Thankfulness

STUFF (Day 1)

The lessons here are designed to help our kids understand how much they have to be thankful for as well as to help them find compassion for those who have less.  Explain to your kids that they may not realize how much they have to be thankful for.      

Eye Opener Activities

• Send the kids on an in-house scavenger hunt to count how many of each object you own (ideas: pillows, stuffed animals, books...). 

• Have the kids cut pictures out of magazines (or toy catalogs) of things that they would want to have. They can make a collage out of their cutouts.  Keep this collage to use for reflection at the end of the week. 

• With your kids, watch the Veggie Tales video: “Madam Blueberry: A Lesson in Thankfulness.”  Talk about the big ideas with them.

• Have kids sort their toys into two piles: keep and giveaway.  Make a plan for how your kids can share what they have with others.  (This activity may be best done after the discussion below.)

Discussion Questions

• What are some things that you have that are your favorite things?
• What are some things that you have that you don’t really use?
• What are some things you really wish you had?
• What do you do when you don’t get what you want?
• What would it be like to have no toys or only 1 toy to play with every day?
• What are some things you could play without toys?
• Why does God choose to give some people many things and others very little?

Prayer

Thank God for the things you have.  Confess any greed, discontent, or lack of thankfulness in regards to the way you view or use your things.  Thank God for His grace that He loves us even when we make mistakes or have wrong attitudes. Pray for the people of Honduras and those in our country who live below the poverty line.

My kids counted 61 stuffed animals.

Abby's "wants" poster.  She really had fun looking for new things to want.

When I asked what it would be like to have no toys, they said "sad."  That gave me the chance to tell them that the kids who don't have toys still find ways to play.  It was a big idea to them to realize that a child can be happy without even having stuff.  They are also very quick to get that God expects those with much to share with those who have little.  After a lesson like this, a practical follow-up, like a toy-sale for charity would be great.