Thinkfulness as Thankfulness: How Gratitude Builds Resilient Hearts

Gratitude isn't just a holiday feeling, it's a way of seeing the world. In today's Facing in the Dark , Wayne Stender and Dr. Kathy Koch explore why thankfulness is essential for a child's identity, maturity, and resilience. Drawing from Dr. Kathy's book Parent Differently , they unpack how gratitude protects against entitlement, strengthens character, deepens humility, and centers kids on God's goodness. Together they discuss how families can build rhythms that cultivate gratitude year-round, how remembering anchors identity, and why thankful hearts shine light into the dark places kids face today.