Family Home Evening - Gratitude

I know not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving but we all have things to be Thankful for. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving a lesson on Gratitude :) Enjoy!

Opening Song: I am Glad for Many Things

Opening Prayer:

Read D&C 59:7
Why has Heavenly Father commanded us to be Thankful?

Read The Thankful Game - The Friend May 1994:

Alison knew it was going to be a bad day. The world outside was gray and drizzly. Mommy told her she had to clean her room. And—worst of all—there was a big bowl of cold oatmeal on the table that she still had to eat.

“I wish it was tomorrow already,” she mumbled.

Mommy looked up from the computer where she was working. “Oh, things aren’t that bad, are they?”

Alison nodded without saying anything more.

“Well, then,” Mommy said, “why don’t we play the Thank-You Game. Find a reason to be grateful for everything you can. No complaining is allowed. If you can do it the whole day, I’ll give you a surprise.”

“That’s a funny game,” said Alison.

“I’ll help you begin. Why are you grateful for oatmeal?”

Alison thought a moment. “I guess it’s better than a bowl full of bugs to eat.”

“Well, that’s a start,” Mommy chuckled.

Alison gobbled down her oatmeal, to get it over with. “I’m grateful I have orange juice to help wash the oatmeal down,” she said.

Then she went to her room. It was a mess! How can I be grateful for a messy room? she wondered. “I know—I’m grateful I have all these toys to play with.” She hummed as she put them all away.

The drizzle outside turned into a freezing rain that tap-tap-tapped against the window. Alison pressed her nose against the frosty glass.

I’m grateful the rain comes so that the flowers don’t get thirsty, she thought.

When her room was tidy, she got out her play dough. She made funny shapes with it and squished it through her fingers. “I’m grateful for things that feel good in my hands,” she giggled.

Alison was having a busy day. Soon her eyelids began to grow heavy.

“I think it’s nap time,” Mommy said.

Alison was going to complain, but she remembered that it wasn’t allowed. She climbed onto her bed and reached for her stuffed rabbit. “I’m grateful I have Charlie to snuggle with,” she told Mommy.

The Thank-You Game got easier and easier. It wasn’t turning out to be such a bad day, after all!

That night Mommy looked pleased. “You played the game really well, Alison,” she said, “Here’s your surprise,” She gave Alison a strip of bubble-gum-scented stickers along with her usual hug and kiss.

Alison smiled. “It turned out to be a really nice day,” she said. “I’m grateful for bubble-gum stickers and hugs and kisses and you!”

Question: Is it easy to always find things to be Thankful for?

Read Alma 37:37

Talk to your family about what it means to “let thy heart be full of thanks unto God”.

Bare your Testimony about some of the things you are Thankful for and why.

Closing Song: Im Thankful to be me

Activity: Tonight we will be starting the Family Home Evening Phantom in our ward. This is always so much fun. Our children have loved starting it in other wards and it is just a lot of fun to hear wisperings from ward members the following Sunday. All you do if take some of your FHE treat to a family from the ward, Knock and run. Of course the next week it is then their turn to do the same. Here is the note you attach to the treats so they know what is happening:



I also found this really cute one for Thanksgiving. If we were back in the states we would do this instead because it is adorable!




And if you dont fancy either of those ideas here is a nice picture for the children to color.Thankful Coloring Page

Happy Family Night!