No one drifts into discipline. It simply doesn’t happen.
Just as an undisciplined body becomes sluggish, out of shape, and often overweight, an undisciplined spirit becomes dull, weak, and increasingly atrophied.
This explains Paul’s words to Timothy, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim 4:7-8).
These verses are the cornerstone of the spiritual disciplines as they spell out their purpose – training in Christlikeness.
Discipline
A discipline is any activity, exercise, or systematic plan that develops or improves a skill. Akin to training, it is something we can do that enables us to do what we have not yet been able to do by our own direct effort.
It is important for us to note that trying to engage in spiritual practices is not enough. Training is required. This is why Paul tells Timothy to “train [himself] to be godly.” It is in the training that we are connected with a power much greater than our own – the Spirit of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead!
Discipline also works because it helps us develop new and healthy habits. Habits that engage our mind and heart with God.
The Discipline of Gratitude
Gratitude is a tough discipline for us. It’s something we all must work at because it is certainly not our default. We believe that gifts we receive are deserved. We regard enjoyed experiences as our due. These things are rightfully ours. We are owed. Entitlement and ingratitude grow deep within our being.
Gratitude is a way of looking at life, a way that perceives the good. It is the direct result of grace. Poet and preacher, Henry Van Dyke defined gratitude as “the inward feeling of kindness received” and thankfulness as “the natural impulse to express that feeling.”
Difficult though it may be, gratitude is a virtue worthy of our discipline and training – no matter our age.
Discipling Our Grandchildren
To help our grandchildren cultivate gratitude in their lives requires intention. Recall that no one drifts into discipline. Time and effort will be required from us as we create and execute a gratitude training plan.
Following are a few simple ideas to help you create a training plan for your grandchildren.
COUNT GIFTS
Provide your grandchild with some special paper or a blank journal and a new pen or pencil. Encourage them to constantly be on the lookout for gifts from God and to keep an ongoing list of what they find. Set an age-appropriate goal (1, 2, 3, 5) and challenge your grandchild to add that number of gifts spied to their list each day.
WRITE A GRATITUDE LETTER
Generate some discussion with your grandchildren by asking them who has made a difference in their life. Then as a follow up, encourage your grandchildren to write a letter of gratitude to one of the people they mentioned as having impacted their life for the good. As part of their gratitude training, help them dig deep. No cursory letters written in haste permitted here. Spur your grandchildren into incorporating details. Have them include why they are grateful. Lastly, take your grandchildren to mail their letters or to meet with the person face-to-face so they can read the letter to them.
STUDY THE NAMES OF GOD
Whether in person or using your favorite long-distance technology, study the names of God together with your grandchild. Choose a different name each day. Individually or together, think about what you already know about the name and what it means to you. Then see what new things you can learn about the name. In prayer, thank God for this name and what it tells us about Him.
JOURNAL THE MIGHTY DEEDS OF GOD
Help your grandchildren grow in gratitude by meditating on the mighty deed of God. Challenge them to spy out His deeds, not letting any go unseen. Encourage them to seek out the wondrous deeds recorded in the Bible and the ones they have personally experienced. Instruct your grandchildren to add a different deed to their journal each day and to write about it in as much detail as they are able.
PRAY BENEDICTIONS
In Hebrew, a benediction was any prayer than began with the word bless. Benedictions were training in the virtue of gratitude. The Hebrew benedictions connected the benefit (the gift) with the benefactor (God) reminding the Israelites that all that was good came from God.
The Hebrew term for gratitude is hikarat hatov, meaning “recognizing the good.”
Benedictions are brief statements that recognize the good that comes from God. Teach your grandchild to pray their own benedictions by first making a list of things they are grateful to God for providing. Then help their turn the items on their list into benedictions by inserting the words “Blessed are you, O Lord” before each item. For example, if sunshine is on your grandchild’s list, they might pray, “Blessed are you, O Lord, for creating the beauty and warmth of sunshine.”
Benedictions are an expression of gratitude that blesses both the beneficiary and the benefactor.
What a privilege to help our grandchildren slow down to see, recognize, and offer thanksgiving for the gifts they have received from our Good and Gracious Giver of Gifts. I pray some of these ideas are helpful as you work to help your grandchildren grow in the discipline of gratitude.
