Is it just me or are sometimes the most simple things the most challenging to get right? One of the things that I love most about spending time in school, or with children in general, is that in teaching them we also teach ourselves. As we try to draw simple and practical lessons from our faith that the children can understand and act upon I am always, inevitably, challenged myself to think again about how I am doing in these areas. This term at Thatcham Park we have been thinking about one of the schools core values of Thankfulness. This topic comes at an interesting time. In the season we are celebrating harvest and at St Barnabas we have been thinking about this from the perspective of Climate Change which, quite rightly, dominates our news at the moment. In this climate change movement we have seen children leading the way, challenging those in power to make good decisions for their generation and generations to come. Our harvest celebration at St B's featured both a celebration and thanksgiving for all that God has given us and also seeking God’s forgiveness and making commitments to change at this critical time for the future of our world. For us too this was led by our children (and 7th Thatcham Brownies who visited us that day) who created a collage of ways we can and should act to play our part in the fight against climate change. As I have spent time with the children in school it has struck me that perhaps the simple act of thankfulness underpins so much of this. We have had somewhat of a tour of the Bible in assembly (the children are developing a great grasp of what’s in the Bible and where!) beginning in Genesis. We thought about the gifts that we take for granted. The things that sustain all life; water, green plants, light, the ecosystems of the earth. In the second week we headed into the gospel to think about the practice of saying thank you, looking at the story of the ten lepers. I was struck, have I gone to God recently to say thank you for the indescribable gifts that I have been given? My health, my home, my child, my work? Or am I like one of the nine who simply walks away? Next we journeyed into the Psalms and sang a psalm of thanksgiving, temple style, with crashing cymbals, bells and drums. We reflected on the different ways to say thank you to God, particularly through what we create in art and music. We listened to some modern musicians giving thanks to God and wondered how we could do the same. We’ll continue our series by thinking about how we can be thankful in all circumstances, the good and the bad, and how we can share all the good things that we have been given. Throughout this time I’ve been struck by how this simple practice, saying thank you and practicing gratitude can be so profound. With an attitude of gratitude many other things take care of themselves. We naturally give with joy. We protect the great gifts we have been given (even the ones that are with us every day) because we recognise them for what they are – gifts. When we are thankful we have a better perspective and, also perhaps, a better walk with God. So I’ll end with the same question I have been asking the children this term, what are you thankful for today? And how can you show it? Revd Nicola |
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