"Mom, who's gonna get the special plate?!" my kids eagerly ask me when they see it on the dinner table.
"Well, you decide..." I usually say.
And that begins an earnest conversation between the three of them as they try to remember who had it last time and who should get it this time...
It's a tradition that we started four or five years ago. Once a month or so someone in the family gets the "special plate"- a plate that is different from our regular dinnerware. Then during dinner time we all share with that person what we appreciate about him/her. We go around the table and tell that person one or two things that we are thankful for. Sometimes it is the kids telling daddy that they appreciate him playing their favorite game with them that week. Or that they appreciate him telling them a story the night before. Other times it's Roland and I telling the kids that we are thankful to the Lord for their heart-of service toward a sibling or hospitality toward a visitor or kindness to an elderly woman at church.
It's been a sweet time for us as a family to regularly verbalize our appreciation for one another- for little things that often go unnoticed or "unthanked".
It has been good for the kids to practice speaking heart-felt and tender words to one another. It's been good for mom and dad to recognize and articulate how other's actions have been a blessing to us.
2 comments:
That's a great idea. We were actually given a "You are special" plate for our wedding, but your tradition adds much more to it. Thanks for sharing. Jessica
That is a great idea. I'm sure that is one of those traditions that the kids will remember and take with them as adults.
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