A Month of Thankfulness

By: Webmaster|Date: Nov 2, 2020|Tags: Plymouth Christian Life, School News

month of thankfulness

We realize that this year has been stressful and anxiety-producing. Our secondary staff and students just completed a small group series on anxiety, and a key component of reducing anxiety is a thankful heart. We want to welcome the month of November by turning our eyes to the Lord and reflecting on what we should be thankful for, rather than looking at the circumstances around us. Considering that, and the fact that we won’t be together for an all-school chapel before Thanksgiving, we want to use the entire month of November to count our blessings.

Thankful Trees

This week, we’ll be adding vinyl Thankful Trees on prominent walls in our buildings. There will be two for elementary and two for secondary. Elementary students will work with their classroom teachers, and secondary students will work with their Bible teachers to fill the trees with leaves. Each week, every student will write what they are thankful for on a precut fall leaf, and each week, the leaves will be added to the trees. We’ll be using the following themes each week to prompt our students to reflect on family, friends, and faith.

Thankful Themes-Gratitude Changes Everything

FAMILY – Week 1: “Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

What about your family are you thankful for? You can think about your extended family as well.  Our families are a gift from God!  Our families are the ones who know us best and love us anyway.  Try to be as specific as possible.  You may be thankful for your mom, but what about her makes her special to you?  Does she always listen to you? Does she always know just what you need?  Or what about your dad?  Does he know just what to say to make things better? Does he make you feel safe and protected?  Your siblings might drive you crazy, but they are the ones who will hold your memories with you all your life.  Finish the thought:  “I am thankful for my _______ because…”

FRIENDS – Week 2: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend comes from their heartfelt advice.” Proverbs 27:9

A faithful friend is a treasured friend.  What is it about your friends that you are thankful for?  I Cor. 15:33 says “Bad company corrupts good character” — what does a good friend do for your character? Do you have a friend that points you to Christ?  Do you have a friend who is always encouraging you in your walk with God?  Finish the thought:  “I am thankful for friends who…”

 FAITH – Week 3: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1

 Psalm 145 is a psalm of how great our Lord is!  In fact, every psalm that follows (Psalm 146 through Psalm 150) begins with “Praise the Lord!”  Why do you think it is so important for us to give thanks and praise to God?  Is it because God needs it?  No, it is because WE need it!  We need to know that whatever we are going through, we have a God who loves us and knows our every need.  When we lift our praises to Him, He can change our hearts and our attitudes.  We can never thank Him enough for all He is and all He does!  Finish the thought:  “I am thankful to God because…”

We hope that by sharing these details, you’ll be able to keep the thankful conversations going throughout the month of November at home as well!

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