Thanksgiving: Kids and giving thanks

Screen shot 2010-11-18 at 1.24.22 PM.pngkids being inspired to appreciaton at a seminar with Nick Vujicic

Thanksgiving. Giving thanks. A tough one for this generation of children. Today, it's “More, more, more!” and, “Me, me, me, me!” and “Aw mom, why can't I have just one more?” and, “Well, he has the blackberry so why can't I?” and, “Clean the table? I didn't even eat!!” and, “It's only $200!” and, “Why do I have to my laundry? None of my friends do!” and “Me pay for my own monthly texting? That's not fair! Waaaaaaaaa!!!!!”

I - like many of my friends - have great kids but our offspring tend to be more of the "I don't get enough” rather than the "thanks mom!" type. That's why I love finding people like Nick Vujicic, Sean Stephenson, and Dan Caro: three guys who have unimaginable physical limitations, but live life to the fullest and are happy! They appreciate and are thankful for just being here - in whatever physical form and however much pain they may have had and do experience. What great examples of giving thanks for our children. And I have to admit it – sometimes I too need role models to remind me of all that I do have and am to be thankful for: especially during those challenging times when my kids nag me and hound me and drive me ABSOLUTELY CRAZY with the wanting and complaining and feeling deprived.

I recently showed videos of these "saints" to my pre-teen son. He watched with interest and intrigue. It almost didn't seem real to him. He didn't understand how a man with no arms or legs could swim and ride a surf board, how a man who has suffered more than 200 bone fractures, is only 3 feet tall and permanently confined to a wheelchair could be dancing, and a man totally unrecognizable by burns with no hands could be playing the drums. Three men physically challenged beyond belief, but functioning and HAPPY and proving that life is so much more than our limited beliefs as to what we can do as spirits in a human body.

So, I've decided that from this Thanksgiving day forward, I plan on playing these videos over and over again during times of struggle and strife with my lovable, yet "me, me, me" kids. I will use the example of how these men live their lives to guide me towards inspiring appreciation and gratitude in myself - which I know will then allow me to inspire the same in my children. Here's to Thanksgiving day every day of the year. Thank you Nick, Sean and Dan....
