Last night I served broccoli with dinner, based on the reactions from my boys you would have thought I served raw sewage… not fresh and nutritious food.

I have to remind myself that they are just little kids and that their lack of gratitude isn’t malicious.

I also have to remind myself that as their mother it is my job to teach them gratitude, and that I need to find small moments to do that.

I’d listened to the NPR while preparing dinner, so in the wake of one terrible Hurricane Harvey story after another, I lost my patience with them.

I often find myself telling my kids how lucky they are to live where they live, to have food on the table, and a safe home to live in.

Because safety and security is the only reality they’ve ever known, they take it for granted and consider it the norm.

When I tell them there are kids out there without a place to sleep they look at me blankly. But I knew that the flooding in Houston was something they could grasp.

We went to Houston less than two months ago.

We spent the whole weekend there. It rained a bit, but mostly it was just fun.

The kids loved the short trip and have been talking about it non-stop since we left.

Last night I showed them pictures of the flooding… in between forcing them to eat their broccoli.

AsthmaMan is three and thought it looked fun to kayak through the city, but Harry Potter understood.

He understood that there are people out there, often through no fault of their own, that face difficult situations.

He understood (even if only briefly) that he lives a blessed life, and that if eating broccoli is his biggest issue, then life is good.

The lack of gratitude extends not only to children, but to adults as well.

There are days when I find myself frustrated with small things, frustrated that my kids don’t listen, frustrated with the heat, frustrated that it is dinner time again. 

But then I am reminded that if these are my problems, then I lead a blessed life.

I find that when I make a conscious effort to be grateful, and to express my gratitude that I am happier.  I am more aware of my blessing, more aware of people around me, and better able to serve.

Be grateful.

Gratitude lifts not only us, but those we come in contact with. It is a gift we can give to those around us.

Make a list, what are you grateful for today? What tender mercy improved your life? What trial made you stronger? What seemingly small and simple thing made life that much easier?

Today, among a mountain of other blessings, I am grateful that tomorrow is a school day, that the temperature is cooling, and that my family is safe and healthy.