Teaching our children to say "Thank You" is very important. We want our children to be polite, and to have good manners. Few things will please a parent more than hearing people give genuine complements regarding their children's behavior.

However, the importance of teaching our children to be grateful reaches much further than our own satisfaction. Gratitude is essential in developing and maintaining a pleasing relationship with God.

In Romans chapter one, Paul speaks of the sinful condition of the Gentiles (vs. 18-32). What started out as a belief in God declined into involvement in and endorsement of every sin one could imagine. How did this happen? Paul says one of the first steps away from God is ingratitude. "Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21).

How can ingratitude lead to unbelief? If one fails to stop and express thanksgiving to God for His blessings, he will begin to take these blessings for granted. The longer he goes without expressing thanksgiving to God, the longer he will go without thinking about God at all. Such a one will lose his dependence upon God and come to believe that he is standing on his own. When one reaches this stage, his thoughts become "futile" and his heart becomes "foolish" and "darkened" because they are no longer centered upon God - they are centered upon self. God ceases to "exist" to the person who is no longer dependent upon God.

So, let's continue to teach our children to be grateful, knowing this develops a dependence upon God that will keep them connected to God. However, it is equally important that we exhibit this gratitude in our own life.

When was the last time you really thought about God?