Pass On Your Blessings Thanksgiving is generally a very busy time for most people. On this day, try to take a few minutes to impress upon your children the generous blessings God has given. Make a small gold box or decorate an empty box to be used as a bank. Place it on your kitchen table and once a day for the next 38 days, place offerings in it. Decide with the children to whom to give this gift. On Ephiphany, when according to tradition, the Kings gave their gifts to the Christ Child, you can give the gift away. Each day, the children will be able to reflect upon their blessings. Day 1 (The Friday after Thanksgiving) - One out of 5 American children live in poverty, lacking adequate clothing. Give 2¢ for each pair of socks, tights and pantyhose each child has. Day 2 - Are you thankful for the blessing of electricity? Give 2¢ for each light bulb in your house. Day 3 - Would you rather live in the dim light of candles? Be thankful for them, too. Give 2¢ for each candle in your house. Day 4 - Most of the world's population lives beyond the reach of medical care. Give 10¢ for each box of Band-Aids in your house. Give an extra dime if they're not skin-colored. Day 5 - Are you thankful you have a roof and doors to keep out the wind and rain? Give 10¢ for every exterior door your house has. Day 6 - Are you thankful for your clothes? Give a nickel for every closet in your house. Day 7 - Are you glad you have indoor plumbing? Give 5¢ for each roll of toilet paper in your house, counting all stored away rolls. Day 8 - To people in refugee camps, even a thin sliver of soap is precious. Give 5¢ for each bar of soap in your house. Give 10¢ for each container of pump soap. Day 9 - Think of something nice you can do for a poor family in your community and do it today. Maybe give them some homemade bread. If you can't, put a dollar in the box and be exceedingly grateful for all of your own blessings. Day 10 - Do you walk to your town to get a bucket of water for washing, drinking, bathing, and cooking? Or are you blessed with faucets that bring precious water to you? Give 10 ¢ for each faucet. Day 11 - How did you get clean today? Give 10¢ if you took a bath and 20¢ if you took a shower. Day 12 - Most of the world is starving while Americans biggest concern is being overweight! Put in 1¢ for each pound your mother and father thinks that they are overweight. Day 13 - What a blessing to be able to see and have eye doctors to help us! Put in 10¢ for each pair of glasses your family members wear, don't forget sunglasses. Day 14 - Many people in the world are blind and do not have doctors to help them. Give 5¢ for each person in your house that wears contact lens. Day 15 - Jesus loved the little children. Give thanks, and 10¢ for every child in your family. Do a secret good deed for each one of them today. Day 16 - How would you like to live in your car as some families have to do? Give 10¢ for every car in your family. Day 17 - What if you lived on the streets? Give thanks for your home and give 5¢ for every pillow in your house. Count the decorative ones, too. Day 18 - Epidemics often follow natural disasters. Give thanks if no one in your house has been too sick this month to go to work or school, and give 50¢. Day 19 - The comfort of a clean bed is an undreamed of luxury for millions of the world's poor people. Give 5¢ for each bed in your house. Day 20 - Did a cozy blanket cover you last night? Give a penny for every blanket in your home. Day 21 - Was it cold enough to wear a coat today? Give a penny for every coat, raincoat, and jacket in your house. Day 22 - In some countries of the world, most of the people can't read. Put in a penny for each children's book in your home. Day 23 - By now, you have received Christmas cards from many loving friends and family members. Give a penny for each card, and give thanks to God for love. Day 24 - Most of the world's population has never seen a supermarket. Instead they scratch out their sustenance with primitive tools. Give 5¢ for every garden tool in your garage. Day 25 - Most people in the world cook over an open fire. Aren't you glad your parents didn't send you out to chop wood this morning? Give 5¢ for every burner on your stove and 5¢ for every oven. Day 26 - Aren't you glad you have people that love and think about you? Put in 5¢ for every gift under the tree that is for you. Day 27 - Jesus was born and died for you! Put in 10¢ for each family member who has received Jesus as their personal Savior. Day 28 - Unfortunately this is the time of the year in which many people suffer loss in house fires. Give 10¢ for every phone in your house from which you can call 911 in the case of an emergency. Day 29 - Many people in the world suffer excruciating pain from the lack of dental care. Give 5¢ for each toothbrush in your house. Day 30 - Do you have a pet? Many people in the world can't even feed themselves, let alone a pet. Give 25¢ for your pet. If you live on a farm and have any other animals, give a penny for each additional animal. Day 31 - Many children in the world barely get one meal a day. How many did you have? Give thanks and 5c for each meal. Day 32 - Would you like to have to walk to school, to church or to the store? Most people in the world walk wherever they go. Give 10¢ for each bike, pair of skates, skateboard or anything else with wheels you have at your house. Day 33 - " Give us this day our daily bread." Thank God for feeding you today and give one penny for every slice of bread your family ate today. Day 34 - Count all the cans in your cupboard or pantry. Give a penny for each one of them as you thank God for the technology to can foods. Day 35 - Count all the packages of frozen foods and meats in your freezer. Thank God for refrigeration and give a penny for each you counted. Day 36 - Make a list of all the fruits and vegetables God created that you can name. Put a penny in for each of them on your list. Day 37 - Many children in the world do not have a school to go to and barely learn to read or write. Give a penny for every pencil in your house. Day 38 - Most people in the world have never touched a computer. If there is a computer in your house, put in 50¢ for each one of them. <HR>
