RELATIONAL VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value others as those whom Christ created and redeemed, I choose to treat them as I would like to be treated.

 

How To Treat People

Gratitude

Jesus taught people to show their thankfulness when they were blessed. God wants us to show appreciation and gratitude for the blessings we receive.

 

I choose to be grateful.

 

Definition

Gratitude related virtues: Appreciation, generosity, thankfulness, satisfaction, sharing.

Gratitude means: Showing elation at an occasion to rejoice, thankfulness. Giving recognition

 
Artwork Music

See flipchart

Click the picture below:

 

 

Give thanks, with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One,
Thank you Lord for saving my soul
Come Ye Thankful People, SDAH 557
Thanks to God, SDAH 276
For Your Holy Book We thank You, SDAH 277

Student Life Applications


1. Student in graduation cap and gown, holds diploma, lifts his eyes to a picture of Jesus.
2. Student writing a letter. The paper has "thank you" at the top.
3. Student giving a gift as he walks into the house he is visiting.
4. Student giving a gift to the teacher.
5. Student giving flowers to parents or grandparents.
 

Bible, E.G. White

Eph. 1:3-8 Noah after the flood
10 lepers healed, 1 returned to thank Jesus
Psalms 9, 30, 65, 66, 67, 118, 136, 138,
Psalm 30:12 O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Matthew 26:27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances.

“Were we as free to give expression to our thankfulness for mercies received as we are to speak of grievances, doubts, and unbelief,” 4T 461
“There is nothing so valuable in the sight of God as a pure heart, a disposition imbued with thankfulness and peace.” 4T 559

Reinforcing Stories

“Mr. Pica’s Gift” by Alvin R. Reyes, from Mizpah, May-June, 1999.
Christian Values Every Kid Should Know, Chapter 16, by Donna Habenicht, R&H, 2000
"Seventy 'Thank You's'", Book One, The Children's Hour, p. 205, by Arthur S. Maxwell,
Great Stories for Kids I, p. 162, by Jerry Thomas
"The Stack and the Attack Pack", Book Two, Great Stories for Kids, by Jerry Thomas
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories I, p. 82, by Arthur S. Maxwell
"Daddy and the Ducks", Volume Three, Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories by Arthur S. Maxwell
"Grandma's Helper", "Willie's Faith", "How Much?", Treasury of Devotional Aids for Home and School
November 23, Sure as the Dawn by Mansell and Mansell

 

Student Activities

1. Students may consider life without some of the basics such eyesight, hearing, parents, food, and clothes, intelligence, knowing God's love and care. Tell God thank you for these.
2. From whom else in our families do we receive help? Grandparents, sisters, brothers, parents, helpers in the home? What would life be like without them?
3. Students may should consider good things being done for people who don't say thank you? If the answer is no, what about the ungrateful humans (us) that killed our Jesus who came to save us? Do we deserve His good gifts? If we are to be like Jesus we do good things for people even if they don't say thank you. But it is so much nicer when we express our thankfulness.
4. Make a list for one day of all the things people do for you for which you are thankful.
5. List the things you have done for others and note when they said thank you.
6. Are there ways of saying thank you without words?
 

Links to the Curriculum
Social Studies: People relations, courtesy, social services of the government for the poor.
Geography: Trade between countries can help both sides. . .thankfulness makes good relations.
 

Resources


Christian Values Every Kid Should Know, by Donna Habenicht, R&H, 2000
The Children's Hour, by Arthur S. Maxwell, R&H, 1945
Great Stories for Kids, by Jerry Thomas, PPPA, 1999
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, by Arthur S. Maxwell, R&H, 1964

 

Evaluation

Primary:
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show gratitude.
Tell or write about when you showed gratitude like God would do.
Tell or write about when you saw the hurt and unhappiness when someone was not grateful:
How do you think God feels when He sees people who are grateful?
How do you feel when you are grateful?
Tell two ways that you can show gratitude.
What makes you want to be grateful?
What is the opposite of gratitude? Who makes us act that way?
Finish the sentence: We can be grateful when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I am grateful?
What difference does it make whether I am grateful or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not choose to be grateful?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t choose to be grateful?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not choose to be grateful?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to be grateful. Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to be grateful better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might be grateful without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could be grateful in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at being grateful? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at being unselfish? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at being grateful?
How often do you show gratitude? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people are being grateful? How have you joined in?

High school:
Would you practice gratitude if no one was checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to gratitude and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you recognize it if someone was not fully grateful? How?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to be grateful?
Are you proud to be grateful and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against gratitude would you speak up to give the other side?
Are you willing to put some money toward supporting gratitude in your city, class, work?
Can you say that being grateful has become a habit? How often are you that way?
What effect do you think gratitude will have on your future life?
Do you see your family practicing gratitude toward others? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote gratitude in your family, friends, church, city, nation?
Does it make much difference if they are grateful or not?