Welch - Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

Rearing children in our contemporary culture is difficult, but rearing grateful children is even harder. In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen Welch gives solid practical advice. Grateful children become responsible adults. I highly recommend this book.

GARY CHAPMAN, PH.D.

Author of The Five Love Languages

In this fast-paced, instant gratification culture, Kristens countercultural message of selflessness and gratitude is much needed! This book left me convicted, challenged, and encouraged, both personally and as a parent.

CRYSTAL PAINE

Founder of MoneySavingMom.com and New York Times bestselling author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode

I absolutely love this book. Kristen unearths the heart issue of why many children are selfish and unaware of the needs of others. Her words engage, inspire, and instruct parents in raising emotionally strong, healthy children who are grateful in the important moments of life.

SALLY CLARKSON

Author of The Lifegiving Home and Own Your Life, and blogger at SallyClarkson.com

Kristens words are so timely, and I am thankful for her hard-fought wisdom. I am all ears whenever Kristen writes because she just gets it, and it was no different with this book. If youre looking for support and practical ideas on how to raise grateful kids in an increasingly entitled world, this book is a must-read.

SARAH MAE

Author of Longing for Paris

I cant think of anyone I would trust more than Kristen to teach on this topic. Shes made her entire life a testimony to doing this well, and everyone who reads this book will be inspired by her story, her heart, her wisdom, and her love of the Lord.

ANGIE SMITH

Bestselling author of several books and Bible studies including Chasing God and Seamless

Parents today fight what seems like a never-ending battle against the current of the culture in raising our children. In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen not only inspires us to raise our children differently, but she teaches us how to actually live that out in our homes. So very practical and convicting. A must-read!

RUTH SCHWENK

Pastors wife and mama to four, coauthor of Hoodwinked, and creator of TheBetterMom.com

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Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Lifes Biggest Yes

Copyright 2015 by Kristen Welch. All rights reserved.

Cover illustrations are the property of their respective copyright holders and all rights are reserved. Florals copyright memoru/Dollar Photo Club; ornaments copyright Giraphics/Dollar Photo Club; earth copyright pashabo/Dollar Photo Club.

Designed by Ron Kaufmann

Edited by Bonne Steffen

Published in association with the literary agency of William K. Jensen Literary Agency, 119 Bampton Court, Eugene, OR 97404.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Welch, Kristen.

Raising grateful kids in an entitled world : how one family learned that saying no can lead to lifes biggest yes / Kristen Welch.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-4964-0529-6 (sc)

1. Child rearing Religious aspects Christianity. 2. Parenting Religious aspects Christianity. 3. Gratitude Religious aspects Christianity. I. Title.

BV4529.W45 2015

248.845 dc23 2015030200

Build: 2015-10-16 12:03:15

For my family

and every other family who dares to live upstream

INTRODUCTION

A FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK sits in our driveway. My husband, Terrell, wears a cowboy hat on Saturday to mow the lawn and his western boots every day of the week. We grow our own tomatoes and fry okra every chance we get, and we are the proud owners of our very own septic system.

Its not uncommon to park behind a horse trailer at the Target or Chick-fil-A down the street from our house. We arent really country; we are just Texans, and proud of it. We love our big green backyard, the friendly neighbors, and the slower pace. And cowboy boots are a part of our story.

Every spring we go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Its not only a big deal around these parts; its the biggest indoor rodeo in the United States. We set aside money for this annual outing for our family to cover our meals, tickets for the events, and an extra-special fried treat.

A couple of years ago, we decided it was high time our three growing kids got their first pair of cowboy boots. You might call it a rite of passage for children in Texas and the western states. We budgeted even more than usual, setting our sights to purchase them at the rodeo because we knew there would be plenty to choose from as well as special deals that would save us money.

On the hour trip downtown, one of my kids (who will remain nameless) complained about the seat arrangements in the van, the heat, and the very air siblings dared to breathe. I corrected said child, and I was half tempted to squash the dream of boots, leaving this one scuffling along in tennis shoes, but after a quick apology was received, grace won out.

We headed straight to the Justin Boots booth and helped all three of our kids try on and choose boots that (1) they loved and (2) we could afford which was a feat in and of itself because my kids can be picky and boots are expensive. But we accomplished our goal in under an hour and spent the rest of the day in new boots looking at animals, watching roping events, and eating large amounts of food that probably shouldnt be fried. (Im looking at you, bacon and Oreos.)