Lessons in giving thanks
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 26, 2015 12:06 AM
"You just tell them about other people that don't have very many things, but they're very thankful for what they have," said Zachary Lulay, a fourth-grader.
Kindergartner Madison Warren said it is important to share with somebody who doesn't have what you have, like toys.
"Give it to them, and they get what they want and don't throw a fit," she said.
A'casia Muscott, a third-grader, said Thanksgiving is "something special" for everyone, be it for sharing stories, food or time with family.
Her classmate, Charlotte Boyd, took it a step further.
"There's a lot of people who don't get things, and you can give things to them," she said. "It's not about getting things for yourself."
Several suggested examples they have seen modeled around them.
"This year my mom is going to be inviting people who don't have any people to really celebrate Thanksgiving with," said fourth-grader Hannah Murdock. "She's being really nice to do that."
"What I do for Thanksgiving to be thankful is go around to people and bring them food because some people don't have food to eat," fourth-grader Jayde Cwiakala said.
"And I also go normally to find places that we can give canned foods to," added Sara Kathryn Lewis, a fourth-grader.
"We go help at the Soup Kitchen for the homeless people so we can feed them," fifth-grader Kayleb Coles said, suggesting the merits of the act. "Don't always feed yourself, sometimes feed other people."
First-grader Reagan Brock said, "We invite my grandma. Her husband passed away, and we invited her to come eat with us at Thanksgiving and we go to my grandma's house to eat chicken."
Ramiyah Shedrick, a second-grader, also touted the merits of trying to make sure others had food to eat or were able to celebrate with their family.
"I'm thankful for the things I have," said Aleiyah Smith, a fifth-grader. "We need to appreciate what we have and that we give thanks to the Lord for what He did for us."
Isabel Boyd explained how her family put that into practice in preparing for the holiday.
"We synergize by helping to set the table, and we all serve the food for everyone," she said.
Did the third-grader just use the word "synergize"?
Yes. It's the sixth habit of highly successful people -- it means "work together," Isabel said. "Help each other."
The boys and girls had no trouble coming up with things for which they are grateful.
"I'm thankful for my family and my friends, our house, being able to have dinner every night and basically everything that I have that others, sadly, don't," Zachary said.
Isaiah Cora, a second-grader, said he appreciates that "God gives us some stuff."
"Thanksgiving is being happy for what you have -- you have a home, you have parents. Some people don't because something tragic may have happened and you'll be adopted or orphans," Sriya Patel, a fifth-grader, said. "To have faith for all the Lord has given you.
"You should be thankful because no one knows what's going to happen the next year."
It can be difficult to describe what thankfulness feels like, but the students tried.
"I feel good when I help people," Kayleb said.
"I feel love inside because when everyone's eating all this, you feel so bad inside that people don't have it, so that's when you give," Sara Kathryn said.
"I feel like you have to express your feelings because people that care about you spend money on you, they spend money on Thanksgiving to please you, and you have to appreciate it," said fifth-grader Briana Albritton.
Scratching his head, Zachary struggled for a moment with how best to capture the sentiment of the day.
"You just have to be thankful," he said. "You have to feel it. You can't just think it."