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Our family participated in a neighborhood garage sale this year. For days leading up to the big weekend, we looked for and gathered unused or unwanted stuff from bedrooms, closets, and the basement. We placed small stickers with prices on every item and carried them into the garage. Isn't it amazing how "junk" items with little or no value will immediately transform into "merchandise" when you apply a tiny price tag?

Midway through our first hour of business, a grandmother examined our goods and focused on my daughter's Barbie doll collection—a perfect gift for her granddaughter. Princesses, fashion models, rock stars, Ken, and a giant camper all sat together on a large table waiting for a new home. This nice lady shed her innocent image, though, when she offered an insultingly low dollar amount for the entire Barbie set.

I remembered all the "Thank you, thank you, thank yous" my daughter said, accompanied by big hugs, when she unwrapped each figure or accessory across a several year span of gifts. And I also recalled and totaled all the retail prices I paid for Barbie et al, which made me want to kick granny out of the garage. Or at least aggressively counter-offer. Until my daughter spoke.

"Okay," she said.

"She means that's how much she'll pay for all of them," I clarified for my surely-confused daughter.

"I know, Dad. And it's okay with me."

As the lady, with a smirk, packed her purchase into several plastic bags, I wondered how my daughter could relinquish her stuff so easily. And that experience made me question what kids today place a high value on—in other words, what are they most thankful for these days? If Barbie's disposable status applies to other gifts as well, then maybe kids look at life different than adults might imagine.

So I asked them. Specifically, I sent a simple survey to parents requesting that they let their sons and daughters complete the sentence "I thank God for …" Participants' ages ranged from five to 12 years old. Here's a sampling of what kids expressed thankfulness for, in their words:

"I thank God for …

… all the food He made."
… my mommy and my daddy."
… my ears to hear, eyes to see and things like that."
… a mom."
… food and for water"
… nice friends and that I can play with them."
… dying on the cross for my sins, shelter, and pets."
… my friends."
… all the Things He made— like the Earth and everything on it!"
… my house, that keeps me from the rain."
… giving me a life to live."
… my family."
… everything He does for me
… giving everybody a special thing they are good at."
… PUP team (a group of students who run lights and sound at church) because it is fun and I learn a lot. And I love it when the kids are amazed at what we do and go OH… AH!"
… Mr. Bob, my dog and my family."
… trees."
… my pets and for living things."
… giving us the baby Jesus."
… the Earth."
… holidays."
… taking my sins."
… letting me be alive."
… letting me have a mom and dad."
… everything that God created."
… protecting me and keeping me healthy."
… sending His Son from heaven to earth to die on the cross for my sins."
… making me and my great life."

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