Lately, I have been listening to my kids say things like, "I don't like that!......That's not enough...I want more!...She got more than me!....Why don't I get any?...That's not fair!" My thoughts usually go right to thinking, "these un-grateful children!
Where have I gone wrong in failing to teach them gratitude?"
Well, I have recently discovered that I am the main source for their un-gratefulness, because I hear my self saying those same phrases that come from their mouths...quite often. So, I believe that in order to teach my children gratitude,
I must first learn to be grateful myself...
As I was thinking about where to start, in the daily cleaning category, I decided to take a refresher course from the FLY lady. She suggests to start by scrubbing your kitchen sink and making it shine. Well, that was something I figured I could do, without too much effort...and the rewards were heavenly!
Look at the beautiful sink sparkle!
As I was scrubbing the sink, I realized that I am very grateful to have a kitchen sink. I am grateful that it produces water instantly into my kitchen. Clean, fresh water none-the-less. I really am grateful to have a sink to hold that instant water. I have no idea how difficult it must be for those who have to carry water in jugs, on their heads, for possibly far distances to get it into their homes. I feel grateful that I have a sink with hot water coming right out of the tap, to wash my dirty dishes in. Because I feel grateful, I am going to use my sink more often to rinse those dirty dishes, quickly and without delay. My sink is going to shine...because that is what is was made to do! I will put my dirty dishes in the dishwasher because it was made to be a "dirty dish holder" and not a clean dish holder...that's what the cupboards are used for. It all makes sense to me now that I understand the worth of my beautiful sink!
Shine! Shine! Shine!
(Now everyone, please go to bed and stay out of the kitchen!)
