During these times of massive layoffs, rising prices, and uncertain political times, peace still can be found. Two little words make all the difference. Time for some FHE Fun!
Opening Song: #131 More Holiness Give Me
Opening Prayer: By invitation.
Emergency Prep Tip: Last week we added “Fidgits” to our 72-hour kits. This week let’s add an inexpensive Book of Mormon to each person’s kit. During difficult times (i.e. forced evacuations or emergency situations), scriptures hold “the healing balm of Gilead”. Reading from them out loud can bring peace, even during the most upsetting of times. Here is a link to purchase a small softcover Book of Mormon—at wholesale prices through the LDS catalog—for each person’s kit.
Devotional: How ‘bout some cool spontaneous scripture sharing! What scripture moved you this week? Did a scripture help any of your children? Let them share and say why. Talking with each other during FHE devotionals makes strengthening each other easier as a family. Devotionals needn't be more than a few minutes, but wow, are these scriptural minutes potent when done kindly and tenderly!
Activity: Items needed:
- 10 foot long roll of newsprint donated from a local newspaper printer (or a large poster board)
- Colorful markers or crayons
- A timer
Ask the family, “What does the word ‘synonym’ mean?” After listening to their responses, explain that ‘synonym’ means you can say the same thing, but use different words. Play the following game for just a moment.
“How many different ways can you say ‘house’ without using the word ‘house?” Let the family try on their own to think of words similar to ‘home,’ ‘building,’ ‘place of safety,’ etc.
“How many different ways can you say ‘cat’ without using the word ‘cat’?” (animal, feline, four-legged creature, etc.)
Explain that there are other ways to say ‘thank you’ besides using the words ‘thank you.’ Before you read the following scripture, invite the family to listen to how many different ways the idea of ‘thank you’ is used, but through synonyms (see the bolded type throughout the scripture below).
As the family listens for ideas that show gratitude or that express the concept of ‘thank you’, have each one raise their toes when they hear one (might as well make it fun!):
1 Chronicles 16:8-12
8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.
12 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
Ask why there are so many different ways to say thank you, or to show gratitude, to the Lord? Why is this important?
Application: We know that showing gratitude to God is a commandment, but how does it bless us? Ask your family for their thoughts. Allow a minute of thinking time, then open up for discussion. How does agency factor in to these kinds of choices?
After listening to your family’s ideas, explain that scientists have researched the benefits that “grateful” people experience. For example, studies show that people who keep “gratitude journals” (on at least a weekly basis) report amazing side effects! Some of those astonishing side effects were: better school grades, stronger physical health, greater alertness, higher energy, increased calm, better sleep, more positive feelings towards school and family, better able to solve problems, and—amazingly enough—grateful individuals achieved more of their life’s goals!
Explain the following points:
- Gratitude has been called the most accurate barometer (or measure) of a person’s soul. And every member of the family was born with this power and ability.
- Choosing gratitude when angry, hurt, or disappointed is a moment of huge triumph. It is a sign of spiritual health and power.
- As scientists have shown, an ‘attitude of gratitude’ brings tremendous richness and wellbeing into life. But an ‘attitude of gratitude’ is a choice and it does not come without effort.
- Dew drops rest easily on grassy fields in the morning, but those same drops disappear quickly under the heat of day. Ask your family if they really want to go through life like dewdrops, so easily dehydrated by heat? Or will they choose the strength that comes from a deliberate ‘attitude of gratitude’?
- When facing down their own personal ugliness of disappointment, anger or hurt, family members can actually share testimony with others that each one has the power to reach for the Lord in gratitude during difficult times.
Remind your family of your love for them. Remind them again that gratitude is a choice. Choose as a family to practice gratitude during the coming week. The more you express it, the easier it becomes to find with its true blessings and benefits.
To finish off the lesson, pull out the long roll of paper (or large poster board). Hand everyone a crayon or marker (make sure the markers won’t bleed through the paper). Have everyone gather around it on the floor.
Explain that as soon as the timer starts, people can start calling out blessings. State, “Be kind, but if you are the first one to call out a blessing, you get to be the one to write it down” (or for the younger kids, to draw a picture of the blessing).
As soon as someone thinks of another blessing, he or she gets to call it out and write it down. Set the timer to five minutes and begin. See how many blessings can be written down by the end of the five minutes. (Expressed blessings could be as simple as, “Eyelashes!” “Blankets!” etc.)
After FHE is over, post the sheet or the poster board somewhere visual to look at during the week. As the days go by, invite the family to add to it as blessings come to their minds. Ask each person especially to notice the Spirit that comes when gratitude is expressed (all throughout the week), whether by writing down noticed blessings or by talking about them in prayer or with each other.
Practice an ‘attitude of gratitude’ and your family will be able to claim the blessings that come to all grateful people.
Closing Song: #151 I Am Glad for Many Things
Closing Prayer: By invitation.
Refreshments: These yummy Caramel Baked Apples are amazing. Besides, as you’re eating them, compare how their plump tummies hold delicious treats inside. This is very much like a plump portion of gratitude. The more we choose it, the more delicious the results taste!
Additional Resources
Here are a few links for you to enjoy regarding why choosing an attitude of gratitude will bless you and your family! (Do remind the family these are individual choices and NOT to chastise one another for forgetting gratitude. It takes a while to learn this trait.)
