Ep. 230: Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

What if the most powerful thing you could bring to Thanksgiving this year wasn't your famous [insert random comfort food], but a grateful heart your kids can actually see?

In this episode, Kent and Lawson help dads get super practical about gratitude, right in the middle of a noisy, entitled world. Using the word GRATEFUL as an acrostic, they walk through eight anchors for a dad's heart: Grace, Reflection, Appreciation, Thanksgiving, Empathy, Faith, Understanding, and Love.

You will hear stories about tiny frogs in a muddy trail, anonymous generosity on YouTube, benefit dinners that do not go as planned, and friends who choose gratitude in the middle of crushing loss. Together, Kent and Lawson connect these real-life moments to Scripture and to simple ideas you can try with your own family this Thanksgiving.

Whether you want a quick conversation starter around the table, a game to play with your kids, or just a reset for your own attitude before the holiday rush, this episode will help you trade comparison and entitlement for a grateful, open-handed way of living.

We'll also include the Scriptures we referenced below, in case you want to go back and study them for yourself.

G - Grace: "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." — John 1:16 (ESV) R - Reflection: "I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." — Psalm 77:12 (ESV) A - Appreciation: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) T - Thanksgiving: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" — Psalm 100:4 (ESV) E - Empathy: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." — Romans 12:15 (ESV) F - Faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." — Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) U - Understanding: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." — Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) L - Love: "We love because he first loved us." — 1 John 4:19 (ESV)

We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f6LfEomB-Jk

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About our hosts:

• Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical Fatherhood ministry projects. He's appeared on television, radio, web outlets and podcasts. He's spoken at parenting and men's events, and authored four books. The first, Wise Guys: Unlocking Hidden Wisdom from the Men Around You, was written to help men learn how to find mentors and wise counsel. The latest, Don't Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit, aims to help dads stay present in their roles as fathers and husbands even when they feel like giving up. Kent's life has been radically affected by godly mentors and his lovely wife, April. They have been married thirty years and have five sons and one daughter-in-law. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Lawson Brown is husband to his high school sweetheart, a father of two young adult daughters, has been a business leader since 1995, and is a former Marine. He served as a small group leader for teenage boys for many years, helped start the Christian media ministry City on a Hill Productions, then later Sanctuary – a new church in Kennesaw, GA – where he served as its leader for Men's Ministry. Lawson's journey of faith has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men whom he's found as brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.