Paul endured many trails for his faith. Through everything he remained hopeful and thankful. For this family activity, you’ll need pieces of colored construction paper, scissors, markers or pens and glue. Gather your family and explain that Paul spent a lot of times in chains, but it didn’t let anything dampen his faith. Paul said, “How can we thank God enough,” (1 Thessalonians 3:9).
Create a thankfulness chain as a family by cutting construction paper into 8-inch strips that are about one-and-a-half inches wide. (Regular white paper would work, too.) Have each family member take five to ten strips of paper. Write down something you’re thankful for on each strip. Then glue the ends of the strip together to create a chain link. Make sure the words are on the inside of the link. Interlock the links as other family members write what they’re thankful for and watch your chain grow. Try not to say what you’re writing down on your chain. When everybody’s finished and a long chain is created, hang it over a doorway. Leave it hanging for a few days and then plan a time to get together as a family again. Tear off a link of the chain and read what’s on the inside. Have the person who wrote that message explain why their thankful. Keep going until you’ve totally dismantled the chain. Thank God for breaking the chains in your life and giving you so much to be thankful for!
