Thumbs up!!!

We have tried to raise grateful children. Like thankful for food to eat, warm home, clothes, you get the picture. Teaching young people to pray isn't comfortable for some. Sort of like the sex talk. Parents tend to shy away from such stuff. Anyway, I'll blog about the sex thing another time. I believe in prayer. Now, I don't care for those 10 minute name everything under the sun kind, besides God knows everything, but a simple acknowledgement of thankfulness, gratitude, awareness of one's blessings...regardless. We pray before our meals. No, that does not make us a great Christian family, trust me prayer is just the beginning. I always try to keep up with who prayed last and such, but a few weeks ago it became apparent that wasn't promoting a peaceful beginning to our meals. So......my husband decided we would us a different approach. A thumbs up approach. When we sit at the table, the last one to put their thumbs up prays. It has taken away the frustration, the unwillingness and made for a much more peaceful mealtime. Why? Because my family craves rules, fairness, equality, and accountablility. Yesterday, my son was the last one to get those thumbs up, so it was his time to pray over lunch. We all bowed our heads, sort of chuckling because we got him, but soon a sincere, honest, simple prayer fell from his lips. Like, thank you for us all being together. Like, thank you for church. Like, thank you for our competitive family. Tonight, we got him again and guess what? He said thank you for us being safe during the rainstorm today. Our meals have started off with a few chuckles followed by serious words of prayer and thanksgiving. Next time you are struggling with encouraging your young people to pray at your table....give them the thumbs up before putting your heads down.