Today was my day to teach the youth of tomorrow about Thanksgiving and why gratitude is so important to record and remember. All third graders at Ridgeline have been required to keep that journal of gratitude the whole month of November. Very interesting how simply the gratitude for the smallest things can be recorded and remembered for days when all hope seems lost. Family, world of beauty, friends always top the list with an occasional true sincere gratitude for something that was done for them at recess or art! I make them write a page a day and you know those kids are thankful for pencils, books, and erasers. One kid is grateful for the Word Wall. I taught them the truth about the pilgrims. How they had planned on landing in New York City and a storm altered their course. Yet, they were grateful. How they nearly starved to death and Squanto who had been treated unkindly by the white man came to their aid. When he was finally returned home by the white man, his tribe had died. No turkey on what they call a day of thanksgiving but not an official holiday. Deer meat. No pies! bummer. No one tried to out do each other yet they met for three day to express gratitude. Everyone welcome regardless of their background or beliefs. The pilgrims got it right. You know who learned the most from all of this? ME! May I remember to be grateful for third graders who get it. What it means to be kind to someone the world would perceive to be an enemy or different from myself. To forgive those who have treated you so unkindly to the point we would save their lives. Wow! Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 04:50:52 +0000
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