I used to make my kids write thank you notes. I was a firm believer that birthday money from Grandma or a Christmas present from Auntie deserved acknowledgement and gratitude. The notes were written in very large letters and usually ran along these lines:

Dear Grandma,
Thank you for the birthday money.
Thanks again!
Love,
Your favorite grandchild

The kids didn’t put a lot of thought or creativity into their sentiments. I didn’t care. I just wanted them to develop the habit of saying “thank you.” It was important to put the simple, terse words down on paper in actual handwriting. Emails, texts, and phone calls would not suffice. That would be too easy. Instead, the scritch-scratch of pencil on cardstock, the crooked address on the envelope and the licked stamp says, “I took the time to do this because I am serious about being grateful.”

Call me old-fashioned.

This year, I’m proposing a new, old-fashioned tradition.
Write a thank you note to God.

Put the pen to paper and jot down a few sincere words of appreciation. Instead of extemporaneous spoken prayers or recited doxologies, give it some thought and maybe a little creativity. A yearly record of gratitude at Thanksgiving could stand as a witness to generations yet unborn.

If you need some inspiration, open to Psalm 106, 107, 118, 0r 136. They all begin with the same line: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” That’s an excellent place to start.