Having gratitude means that you are thankful for the good things in your life. It is an attitude that seeks the good in every situation and tries to see a silver lining around every cloud. Instead of going straight to negativity and panic, a thankful person focuses on the positives and manages to maintain a healthy perspective, rather than thinking the world is out to get them.

So many stressful things happen in everyday life, whether conflicts with family members, financial concerns, or health problems. But thinking about everything you must be grateful for - from friends to family in your life to the clothes on your back to the food on your table can help put those challenges in perspective.

If we look to the bible, we see that it centres around gratitude or giving thanks continually. The faithful are called to give thanks to God for everything, and not only to be thankful but to rejoice. " Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! " Psalm 95:2.

Jesus began and ended his prayers with words of thanks and praise to his father and in the Lord's Prayer he taught his followers to do the same Matthe 6:9-13. He even thanked God for the opportunity to sacrifice his life for the world.

Teaching children an attitude of gratitude requires helping them to look at their situations from a point of appreciation rather than from a deficit. We can provide them with opportunities to express thanks daily through: