Gratitude

Each month, our school has a different virtue that we think about and discuss. Then, a certain grade is chosen to present on that virtue in chapel. Yesterday, the sweet little first graders taught us about gratitude. In preparation, they each thought of something they were grateful for and drew a small illustration. In chapel, each child stood and said what they were grateful for while holding up their picture. Hearing so many little voices share their unique perspective one after the other, accompanied by their sweet little drawings, was absolutely beautiful, moving, full of joy. I was so moved, in fact, that I secured the list to share with you here. Read it less like a list, and more like 48 imaginative little six and seven-year olds telling you what they appreciate most about life.

We are grateful for...
...trees that give us oxygen.
...flowers because they make our world beautiful.
...fuzzy stuffed animals to sleep with at night.
...to be living in such an awesome world.
...having a nice teacher.
...God.
...having a cat to sleep with each night.
...a warm, cozy bed.
...our pets.
...our loving families.
...snow in winter and sun in summer.
...our houses.
...sleepovers with our friends.
...night and day.
...the animals on our Earth.
...our planet Earth.
...electricity.
...our school, so we can learn.
...brothers and sisters.
...shade of a tree on a hot summer day.
...new sneakers when we run the mile run.
...having clothes to wear.
...all the beautiful colors in the world.
...artists who share their creativity.
...scientists because they discover things about our world.
...doctors who keep us well.
...dogs who are always happy to see us.
...pencils to write with.
...books to read.
...firefighters and police officers to protect us.
...the President of the United States.
...a peaceful world.
...food and water to nourish us.
...gravity, which holds us to the Earth.
...the stars and the moon.
...the planets in our solar system.
...the creatures of the sea.
...swimming in the summertime.
...the sports we play.
...stoplights, so cars won't crash.
...our healthy bodies.
...the stories we read.
...green grass under our bare feet.
...wiggly teeth.
...our country's freedom.
...the things that make us special.
...vacations on the beach.
...glasses to help us see.


If that doesn't brighten your Thursday, not much will.
It's hard not love the girl who is grateful for her wiggly teeth, but which is your favorite?