In Kindergarten music class, one of the goals is to begin to help the students match vocal tones sung to them by the teacher. One of the little exercises I am using this year is to sing the child’s name and then sing , in a sing-songy question to which I have already demonstrated a muscial response….Susie, what are you thankful for? All this on a 3-note melody line. Then, as having demonstrated to the students, their response would be …”I’m thankful for___.” [etc].
The amazing thing about this little musical exercise is not so much that many of the students in kindergarten can match pitches, but the nature of their responses.
They respond that they are thankful for “my family; my friends; my grandma; my house; my parents; my little brother (or sister); my school.” Once in a while I will get “my church” Several will sing, “for God”.
But as I go up the grades from Kindergarten through 1st grade and into 2nd grade….the responses become quite different. The older the student, maybe more “sophisticated, perhaps” the more they sing that they are thankful for THINGS. “ My bicycle, video games, electronic gadgets; They still sing my mom & dad or my parents, etc. but not as much as the little ones, who have just started school a mere ten weeks ago or so.
I always encourage them to continue to be grateful and thankful for their families and those that love and care for them. And for a God that loves them. Usually, the little ones take it from there and preach to one another. And for that I AM THANKFUL!
MG Henry, Fairfax County Music Teacher
mgsingsong@aol.com
thedailylily.com 
MG, sounds like you have heard this scripture and have became a practitioner of the Words of Jesus! They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.'” Matthew 21:16 NLT
So good also to promtoe and establish those patterns of gratefulness vs selfishness or complaining when one is a child so it can be maintained and cultivated on into adulthood.
How wonderful to hear that the little children are expressing their thankfulness. I’d like to share the devotion today, from Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling.”Thank Me throughout this day for My Presence and My Peace. These are gifts of supernatural proportions. Ever since the resurrection, I have comforted My followers with these messages: Peace be with you, and I am with you always. Listen as I offer you My Peace and Presence in full measure. The best way to receive these glorious gifts is to thank Me for them. It is impossible to spend too much time thanking and praising Me. I created you first and foremost to glorify Me. Thanksgiving and praise put you in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My riches to flow into you. As you thank Me for My Presence and Peace, you appropriate My richest gifts.”
“It is impossible to spend too much time thanking and praising Me. I created you first and foremost to glorify Me. Thanksgiving and praise put you in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My riches to flow into you.” Oh, thank You Father for Your presence and peace. Thank you, that these little children are expressing their thankfulness.
MG, so thankful you are teaching and encouraging these children to be grateful and thankful.
Fairfax County
As a music teacher in the prestigious County of Fairfax I have made these observations and present them to you for your perusal.
Fairfax County Public Schools are among some of the most celebrated elementary/secondary educational institutions in our nation. I can’t help but think that one of the reasons that Fairfax County continues to be so successful in creating good students and citizens is that the County continues to allow Christian churches to use their gymnasiums and cafeterias for Sunday morning services. I am sure other school systems do this, also, but I think that not only is it financially expedient but I consider how the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is being trumpeted in our cafeterias and gymnasiums every week, week after week. The sound of praise and worship, hymns of praise ring through our hallways on Sundays. What a thrilling thought. And Sunday School is being taught in individual rooms on Sunday mornings where the Word of God is saturating our students’ classrooms.
And the ‘Good News Club’ continues to draw little children after school on assigned days as they sit in the cafeteria after classes and listen to a skilled Bible teacher tell Bible stories, learn how to pray for their families, how to pray for healing, and to sing little songs and choruses about Jesus.
Where there are those who honor the Word of God…The Word of God honors them. We are the recipients of the peace that passes all understanding because His Word does not return void but accomplishes that purpose for which He has sent it forth. Amen!
By faith prayer and praise helps. Also, rich county helps.
The last two weeks I have held a newborn in my arms and prayed in word and song over the baby .
When I went to sing to him God gave me the song Edelweiss and I substituted words of prayer over the baby and not the words of the original song. Immediately the song calmed little Christian and he would look about. It got so that everytime he got upset his parents said Christian you want Grammy to sing to you and I’d sing the song with another prayer over him. God loves HIS little ones no matter what size they come in. I suppose that is why praise can turn our hearts to JOY no matter what situation we find ourselves in. We put on a garment of praise and our attitude changes and how we handle situations change. I know that God will touch this little one with the prayers sung to him for his journey on Earth.