GROWING A
Thankful Family
I N A “ WA N T- M O R E ” WO R LD
The Fine Art of Having Enough
By Jan Pierce, M.Ed.
O
ne of my favorite childhood stories is Laura Ingalls
Wilder’s account of the Christmas when Mr.
Edwards braved a snowstorm to bring gifts to the
family. He had sweet potatoes for Ma in one pocket and
gifts for Laura and Mary in another—a tin cup for each
of them, plus a penny and a peppermint stick. The girls
were thrilled. Would our children be content with such
simple gifts today? Not likely. It’s a challenge to raise
thankful children in our consumer-driven culture, but it’s
a challenge we can meet. We can train our children in the
fine art of having enough.
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