A Moment with M.O.M.: A Moment of Training- Cultivating Thankfulness

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Moment of Training- Cultivating Thankfulness

This training moment actually took place at my home this weekend. My littlest one was having a difficult time not complaining. He was focusing on what He wanted instead of all that God had given him. After a time of conversation and helping him name six things he could be thankful for he went about his day. Each time he would ask me for a snack or to do something he desired. I would ask him, "Can you tell me something you are thankful for?" He would then name something that he was truly thankful for. When we started out he was challenged to think of things to be thankful for because he was focused on what he didn't have. By the end of the day he would smile and name something he was thankful for and then skip away. Setting his attention on all that God has given him lightened his burden and cultivated an attitude of thanksgiving! I was blessed to watch the transformation take place before my eyes- I always am!

I might have this little exercise, training moment, go on for a few days. We will see how the Lord leads.
When you see an attitude in your child that does not honor the Lord, help them to develop the opposite trait that is God Honoring.

Here are just a few ideas we have done over the years:

Pride- esteem others better than yourself. Have children serve one another. Give them some creative ideas.. like doing the other child's chores. Or playing with a sibling instead of doing something they wanted.

Discontent- Give Thanks

Unkind words- have everyone go around the table and say something kind about the person next to them.

1 comment:

AnonymousMarch 3, 2010 at 5:08 PM
I am really enjoying your blogs. Thank you so much for sharing! I actually used this concept of "naming 5 things you are thankful for" this morning. It did quickly change the ugly attitude my daughter was showing. It works on us adults too. :)
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Real Moments in my Home!

I purchased a butterfly net for my children since we are having a delightful time watching them this fall. As Matthew ran out the front door he exclaimed with great pride, "I'm the BUTTERFLY hunter!"

As I cleaned out my purse, Sammy and Matthew sat on the bed watching as I went through each item. I found skittles at the bottom of my purse, a cheez it, nickles, dimes and pennies, lip gloss, receipts and more. Sammy said, "Mom it's like another world in your purse!" That child makes me smile!!

Ezekiel just informed me that making my coffee everyday should count as school work... he thinks it falls in the chemistry section since he is mixing coco with my coffee! lol!

After reading our proverbs for the day the children will tell me what verse they liked and what it meant to them. Today, Sammy was extreamly excited to share and raised his hand saying, "Pick me! Pick me! I know what my favorite verse was." "Okay Sammy, what was your favorite verse?" I asked. He replied, "My favorite verse is the one that says: Let no man throw a frog at his brother." The entire family started to laugh. I instantly read through the text again to see what might have sounded like that to him. Finally, I said, "Sammy, I can't find what verse you are talking about." He remained confident and said, "That's the way I heard it." When I told Grandma about it she said, "Well you know that is kinda biblical.. frogs are a curse so what Sammy was saying is: Let no man throw a curse at his brother." It's a good thing we always discuss what we hear in our Bible study.

As Matthew approached his fifth birthday he seemed disappointed. When I questioned him he said, "Momma? Can't I please just skip five and be six?!" I replied, "No... you have to be five first. Why don't you want to be five?" After a pause and with a discouraged countenance he said, "Because five is odd and I don't want to be odd Mommy!"

After all the children had their dentist visit Samuel began explaining how he had such good results. He said, "If you want to be like me all you have to do is only brush your teeth sometimes... the rest of the time... EAT THE TOOTHPASTE"

Bekah walked in while Matthew and I were working on his addition flashcards. She asked, "Matthew what are you doing?" "Doing my Plusing," He replied. I said, "You mean doing your addition" With confidence he turns to me and says, "Yes, that's it's middle name."

Bethany was helping Josiah look for beef cattle online when she came to me and said, "Momma, they had these really sad looking cattle that were super skinny called 'Commercial Cattle'. Momma that's all they would be good for - there wasn't enough meat on them for anything else." My Beth is just too sweet!

Timothy and Elisha were talking about all the contents of the Ark of the Covenant. When Elisha told Timothy that God had put the 10 commandments in it. Timothy replied with confidence, "Well He had too so that Moses wouldn't break them again!"

After several trips to the emergency room with my Timothy. I said, "Timothy, you really must stop hurting yourself like this. Each time we go through that hospital door it's costing Daddy 100.00!" He sweetly replied, "Is there another way we can get in Mommy?"

As Ezekiel and I poured over the garden magazines we ran across the brussel spouts. Ezekiel had never seen them before and with excitment said, "Momma, Look! They sell bite size lettuce!"

As we prepaired to vacume seal our newly butchered chickens. My Beth-Joy said, "Mom I know we want to seal our chickens but I can't figure out how we are going to get that chicken through that skinny slot!"

Jed was about five years old when he ran out to the kitchen and met me with excitement saying, "Mom I think God made my wife last night! I counted my ribs and now I am missing one!"

Matthew and Samuel were playing when the girls and I overheard them and couldn't help but giggle. Matthew wanted to play house and have a baby but Samuel informed him that, "You can't have a baby, Matthew- you're only a 2T"

While driving I often lose cell phone reception with my Joe. I never realized how much the little ones were listening until one day I overheard them say, "Mom and Dad broke up again!" "No Mommy broke up with Daddy" replied Matthew. "No! It was daddy. He broke up with Mommy again!" Replied Sammy. As I listend I thought it was a good thing no one was ease dropping into their coversation- they would think my Joe and I had a pretty rocky marriage! LOL

While on one of our "girls days" Bethany was having a hard time falling asleep. Grandma encouraged her to count sheep. After a few moments of slience we heard Beths sweat voice say, "Thump" We all thought about it for a moment and then Grandma asked, "Beth what was the thump about?" "Oh, one of my sheep ran into the fence... that's all Grandma."

A Note From M.O.M.

Welcome to a Moment with M.O.M(Mother of Many)

Have you ever wished someone would answer your questions, pray for your requests and listen as you ponder, pray and pursue your duties as wife and mother? Well, then you've come to the right place! Please join me as I, Jeanette Wood, share my heart, real moments from my home and loving encouragement on heart issues and practical tasks alike. If you have a question please feel free to email me and I will respond as the Lord allows. I don't claim to have all the answers but I know the One who does. I love to share what He has done in my life with others so that you might glean some of the gems that I have learned over the years. Come, sit on my porch or walk with me through the pastures as we share the goodness of the Lord.
Because of His Love,
Mrs. Joseph Wood

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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Moment of Training- Cultivating Thankfulness

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