My friend from Spartanburg, Luanne Taylor, began looking for how she could help her children with her grandchildren after schools were closed in March. Her children were now faced with the daunting task of homeschooling by assisting their children with assignments as they worked from home. As a grandmother, what could she do at a distance to help her children with their new assigned responsibilities and lift her grandchildren’s spirits so they could endure the changes ahead?
She began searching for ideas on Pinterest. She adapted an idea based on this Gratitude Scavenger Hunt. Click here for Pinterest idea
Luanne used this pinterest chart as a base to develop her list of questions. Then she sent the questions to each grandchild as an assignment. When they finished the assignment, they would each receive a surprise. They all completed the gratitude assignment (except the toddlers) and sent the answers to Luanne. Luanne loved reading their answers so much that she decided to send the same questions to their parents. This scavenger hunt involved reading, writing, imagination, and expression of feelings.
But she did not stop there. Luanne created a gratitude book that pulled together all their answers. She inserted personal pictures, family pictures and other pictures that would illustrate their answers in personal and humorous ways. Each family member was to take a picture of themselves with a mask on. Who could have ever imagined we’d be in this situation! For Christmas, she gave each family one of these precious family books.
Here is the cover of their 2020 Family Gratitude Book:
Luanne has a keen sense of humor. Here’s the back cover of their book:
Luanne calls gratitude an attitude of thanksgiving, not always felt, but always chosen. This is an anonymous prayer she found which she included in her book to cultivate an attitude of gratitude:
Heavenly Father,
Grow a more grateful heart in me.
I take You for granted far too often.
I get sucked into the busyness and stress of life and I just forget.
I forget to stop and look for the good things
Because its so easy to dwell on the bad stuff.
Give me faith to see You at work in my life, answering prayers left and right.
Teach me to look around and appreciate the beauty in the world
You created for us–The sights, the sounds, the textures, the smells.
Help me dwell more on what I do have than on things I don’t.
Fill my mind and heart with peace, joy, contentment,
And overwhelming gratitude for all You’ve done for me.
I want to fall even more in love with You
With a heart overflowing with thankfulness.
I love You so much, God.
In your Son’s precious name I pray.
Amen
And this wording appears at the end of the book:
The Gratitude Scavenger Hunt made us all realize we have been so blessed.
Covid-19 has created a “new normal for 2020.” Look at our masked faces!
But Jesus has got this and because He does,
WE have MUCH to be grateful for.
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
After Luanne shared what she’d done with her Christmas card list, I was touched. Then I began to think of other ways this same idea could be adapted. Here’s an adaptation if you are still schooling at home or even a teacher could use this at school. Each child could make their own gratitude book with their own wording and pictures or illustrations. A great keepsake for sure to remind them how they can be thankful and concentrate on all “the good things” even in the midst of a pandemic that greatly altered all of our lives.
This would definitely be in my gratitude book:
This picture would definitely be in my gratitude book. Remember the thrill of finding this on the store shelves!
What ideas have you used to teach gratitude to your children and grandchildren?
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs and was written with commentary from an oncologist. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog at www.ginnybrant.com.
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