Gratitude: How to teach your children gratitude this thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving day. Many parents want their children to learn gratitude. This is a common want on the part of parents. However, most American parents teach children gratitude by way of punishing children when they aren't thankful for what they receive from parents. However, parents can do something not punitive in nature to encourage gratitude in children.

It says in Ephesians 6:4 KJV:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishment, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents in the parish at Ephesus who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punitive parenting in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refer to melding the countenance of children. In this context, melding a child's countenance referred to one thing - lavish praise and encouragement when children were caught in the act of good behavior. One form of good behavior then was gratitude. Ultimately, children learn how to be grateful in the punitive tense when they heard out the instruction of fathers. The Greek root word translated νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to self-directed religious instruction, where fathers left out a Bible, with children being praised and encouraged for holding views of gratitude towards life.

Older children, meaning past age 6, showed gratitude automatically, as a developmental stage. Whenever children showed gratitude, thank THEM in return with lavish praise and encouragement. From there, children sought out more praise and encouragement. 

Children under age 6 are incapable of gratitude. They want what they want, when they want it. Punishing a child for ingratitude is futile. This is because children that young are incapable of being grateful, and are too young to learn. Children are able to learn gratitude past age 6, and learned through praise and encouragement.

Most unthankful behaviors at Thanksgiving are developmentally appropriate behaviors. Some children will be fussy. Some children will throw food. Some children will complain about the food. Either way, they are acting in an immature way, with children growing out of these behaviors eventually. Saying "be grateful" never taught anyone to be grateful.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to wrath through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.