Complaining & Thankfulness

OBJECTIVE

By the end of the module, children will be able to love being holy and practice their sense of listening to recognize the voice of our Shepherd, The Lord, Jesus Christ. By the end of this lesson, children will be able to give thanks to The Lord Jesus, feel grateful to their parents, and focus on the blessings that surround them.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 8 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

Opening Game

Start with a game. Stand up if you agree You can modify the game by asking them to put thumbs up or down. This game can be carried in person or on Zoom class.

Give hypothetical scenarios. Children will stand up if the scenario applies to them.

Examples:

Is it okay to say, "I don't like any food at home."?
Sandra likes to say "please" and "thank you" almost in every situation. She seems pathetic and needy.
Buying new outfits is never a mistake.
If all of my friends have the latest iPhone, why shouldn't I?
A person should be evaluated by the way he/she talks, walks, and owns.
Mira's family moved to a new house and has to share a room with her 2 siblings. I really feel bad for her.
Parents do not understand the importance of electronic games.

This game will get them to think, stop, and reevaluate every scenario for themselves.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Luke 17: 11-17 Ten Lepers Story

Memory Verse "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 20 Minutes

Start with discussing the Bible reading. Explain that in the memory verse it is the will of God to give thanks in everything. Our Lord, Jesus Christ loves us so much and He wants the best for us.

The Importance of Thankfulness for our Brains and Bodies

Although it might seem difficult for us to thank for the things we dislike, it is for the best interest of us to be thankful. There is a professor of psychology and a researcher at the University of California, Davis, with the name of Dr. Robert Emmons, who is the author of the book Thanks How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. This professor made a study about gratitude on a group of 300 people. He gave each one a journal and divided these people into three groups. One group had to write daily lists of things that they were grateful for. Another group had to write a daily list of things that annoyed them, and the last group had to write about whatever popped in and out of their minds such as Batman, strawberries,..etc. Emmons found that the people who wrote about things that they were grateful for had a much higher level of well-being than the other two groups. Not only that they slept better and exercised more, just that simple act of writing down what they were thankful for seemed to kickstart their brains. Don't you think that our Lord Jesus wants us all to function better in life and feel happy? He also wants us to be holy. "Be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16

Example of Complaining and Thankfulness in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, we see that the ones who complained against God were unhappy. Can you give examples? In the book of Exodus, when the people of God fled out of Egypt and stayed in the wilderness, they complained and said back in Egypt they had pots of meat and ate bread to the full, and God brought them to the wilderness to kill them. They forgot that God saved them from their bondage and sheltered them with His love and care. They were trapped in their negative thoughts. However, the Lord gave them what they asked for. It even says that, "The LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light". God was with them day and night. What else can anyone really need more than that? The Lord was displeased with their many complaints and gave them consequences.

The Trap of Complaining

Sometimes we do the same thing with our own parents. We complain. Sometimes we complain about simple things such as, "The food is cold." Other times, we even complain about things parents do not have any control over. What are some things that parents do not have control over? It's easy to get pulled into the trap of complaining. Be aware that the people who complain are not much fun to be around. Also remember, the research has shown that complaining can actually do harm to your body.

Hookup Activity

Hold up a plain sheet of paper with a single dot in the center. Ask children what they see. Most likely, they will comment on the dot. Point out that what you have is a perfectly good sheet of paper. It just happens to have one little dot. So often we are prone to point out the tiny bit of bad in a situation, rather than focusing on the overall positive. The Lord Jesus granted us so many blessings, yet we tend to look at the negatives rather than looking at the positives. The bible says, "Do all things without complaining and disputing." Philippians 2:14. Mention the memory verse and explain it.
Another activity you can do with the children is "Is the glass half-full or half-empty?" In this activity, you will bring a transparent glass of water and fill it halfway with water. Ask the children, "Is the glass half-full or half-empty?" Take all their responses. Some will probably say the glass is half-full. Others may look at it and say it's half-empty. Both groups would be correct, except they have different views. One may be positive and focus on the full half and be thankful and another may focus on the empty half and be negative.

Connect the Activity to the Lesson

In real life, we do not have everything. We might face obstacles or negative things. However, how we view what we do not have, can make all the difference in our attitude. Positive people tend to see obstacles as opportunities and focus on their blessings. As a result, they feel thankful and happier. Negative people who focus on what they do not have or their obstacles, can be easily defeated by their views and tend to be unhappy.

The Importance of Thankfulness in the Christianity

Thankfulness is one of the most important virtues in Christianity.
It glories our Lord Jesus in every sense of the word. If you thank Him, then you acknowledge His goodness and grace.
Not only that, but it gives you inner peace and clarity to see and taste our Lord Jesus within you.
In giving thanks, we obey our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our church knows the importance of thankfulness. If you notice, we start every liturgy and the seven prayers of the Agpia with the "Thanksgiving Prayer". We also give thanks in absolutions of the hours. Even in funerals, we start with the "Thanksgiving Prayer". Basically, we thank God for every hour that passes in peace.
H.H. Pope Shenouda III, blessed memory, mentioned that there are levels of thankfulness. "The highest level of thanksgiving is to give thanks over tribulations." In his book, The Life of Thanksgiving, he gave us 16 fields of thanksgiving. Choose a few to mention in your lesson.
Thankfulness should be a habit expressed daily in everything. The first thing we do when we wake up in the morning, we should thank our Lord, Jesus for a new day and for another opportunity to repent and enjoy another day in His presence. Can you think of other reasons we should thank our Lord for?

We should Thank God:

For He created you and gave you existence.
For the Nature around you.
For the natural talents He gave you.
For the faith you are in.
For being still alive.
The religious environment in which you are brought up.
Because He did not deal with us according to our sins.
For His loving-kindness and care.
For your state of health.
For good health, and for sickness.
Because He has protected, assisted, preserved, accepted us, had compassion on us, supported us and brought us till this hour.
For the good you see and the good you cannot see.
For the grace working in us.
For the great redemption He offered to us.
Because He gave us to know Him.
For His promises to us.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

What did Jesus say to the Samaritan Leper?
Why did the people of God complain against The Lord in the wilderness?
How can you focus on the positives?
What are the things you are thankful for?
What can you do to start being thankful?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

How can we start to be thankful and content with what we have?

First, watch yourself and your tone. Stop and listen to the Holy Spirit's voice in you. Ask yourself, "Will the Lord Jesus be pleased with my feelings, attitude, or words?" Remember to train your ears to listen to the voice of your Shepard.
Second, start praying and ask the Lord Jesus to help you replace the complaining with thankfulness.
Third, start writing down your blessings. Start a daily journal where you write one thing you are thankful for that day.

ACTIVITY - 3 Minutes

The activity is embedded in the lesson: The dot in a white blank sheet of paper.

You will need a white blank piece of paper and a Sharpie. This activity is based on the book, The Dot, by Peter H. Raynolds which teaches the children to focus on the positives. Some might have read it at their schools.

Another activity is half full, half empty glass of water.

Alternative Activities: (These can be done in the beginning of the lesson to guide your teachings or at the end to check for understanding.)

For Zoom, have children write all what they are thankful for in the Chat Box. Read and praise.
For in-person class, give each one an index card and a pen and have them write down what they are thankful for. Collect and share with them.

SERVANT RESOURCES

Luke 17: 11-17
Philippians 2:14
1 Peter 1:16
Exodus 16
The Life of Thanksgiving by H.H. Pope Shenouda III

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Parents should encourage their children to train their ears to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in them and act according to the will of the Lord Jesus. First, gently encourage them to stop and think about their feelings, attitude, or their words. Second, pray with them and ask for our Lord Jesus' help. Third, provide them with a notebook and together write down your blessings every day.