By John Murchison | Article from Vergenetwork.org 26 NOV 2014
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to pause as a family and reflect on the many and various ways that God has been good to you over the past year. I wanted to share an easy activity that you can do with your kids to lead them in thankfulness both on Thanksgiving, and throughout the years.
In Joshua 4, we read about Joshua’s leadership just after God’s people, the Israelites, have crossed into the promised land through a miraculous parting of the Jordan River. After they cross over, Joshua instructs the Israelites to find twelve large stones, one for each tribe of Israel, and to place them together. Picking up the story in Joshua 4:21:
And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24 ESV)
This Thanksgiving, your family can follow the example of Joshua and the Israelites to remember God’s faithfulness, his goodness, and his might. All you need for this activity is a clear vase or container of some kind, some light-colored stones, and some Sharpies. Have each family member write down one thing that God did over the past year that they are thankful for onto the stone with the Sharpie.
After everyone shares what they wrote down on their stone, have them place it in the clear container. Display that container in your home somewhere that your kids will see often. Then, whenever you want, you can review what God has done for your family. Even people who come visit your home may ask “What do these stones mean?” and you get to share the goodness of God with them!
Imagine, over the years, how many stones will be piled up by your family, reminding you each day how great and mighty the LORD is!
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