A wonderful value to teach children of all ages is the value of giving and being thankful for all that we have. These values have a rippling effect in the pond of life.
Children are not born with giving hearts, thankfulness and a willingness to share. They have to be taught them at an early age. Yes, it is true some children do share and give to others more easily than other children. There are children that find this a real challenge to learn. It is just like saying please and thank you, it does not come naturally we have to be taught.
When I was growing up I was privileged to have a mom that said that please and thank you were the golden words. I can see the value she was teaching me at an early age. These words count.
In a world that has so much instant gratification and access to many things, it has become challenging to bring our children’s awareness to how much they have and to be thankful.
Every year a great opportunity comes around to teach our children just that. In fact in Africa we are privileged to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. Thanksgiving in America happens in autumn when the last of the harvest is collected. It is the 4th Thursday in November, which means Thanksgiving this year will be on Thursday 25th of November. It is a wonderful day to share, give and be thankful for all we have with our families and friends.
What is Thanksgiving all about? The celebration started many years ago when the first settlers brought in their first harvest. They were so grateful for their crops and the food they had grown for their families and community.
It was decided that a thanksgiving meal would be served to celebrate this goodness. It became a tradition and is still celebrated today.
In Africa our autumn falls in May each year, on Thursday 27th of May. We are so fortunate to celebrate this wonderful tradition twice in one year. It is also great fun to make the traditional American food on this day to celebrate.
That would include a roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn or corn bread, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. In Africa we have so many different traditional foods because we have so many different cultures. Traditional foods in Africa would be potjie, vetkoek, bunny chow, biltong, braai meat, malva pudding, milk tart and koek sisters to name but a few.
Why not, invite family and friends around for a meal and celebration. When everyone is gathered around the Thanksgiving table each person has the opportunity to say what they are thankful for.
Have you ever considered establishing such a great tradition for your family?
Why not give it a try this year.
Happy Thanksgiving!
