10 Bible Stories About Gratitude and Thanksgiving for Kids

Saying "thank you" is one of the first things we teach children. But gratitude is more than just good manners - it's an attitude of the heart that recognizes God's blessings in our lives. The Bible is full of events that teach us about thankfulness, even in difficult circumstances. Let's explore these inspiring stories and learn how to develop grateful hearts!

What Is Gratitude?

Gratitude means being thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don't have. It's noticing the good things in life - both big and small - and saying "thank you" to God and to the people who help us.

The Bible teaches that gratitude is important because:

• It reminds us that every good gift comes from God
• It helps us focus on blessings instead of problems
• It makes us and others happier
• It shows respect and appreciation
• It helps us trust God more

As the apostle Paul wrote: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Bible Stories About Gratitude and Thanksgiving for Kids

1. The Ten Lepers - Only One Said Thank You

Bible Reference: Luke 17:11-19

The Story:
Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem when He met ten men who had leprosy, a terrible skin disease that made them outcasts. They had to stay away from other people because the disease was contagious. When they saw Jesus, they called out from a distance, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

Jesus told them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." As they went, they were healed! Their skin became clean and healthy again. Imagine their excitement!

But here's the surprising part: only one of the ten men came back to thank Jesus. He fell at Jesus' feet, praising God with a loud voice. This man was a Samaritan, someone the Jews usually didn't like.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then Jesus said to the thankful man, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

The Lesson:
Only one out of ten remembered to say thank you! This story teaches us not to be like the nine who forgot. When God answers our prayers or when someone helps us, we should always remember to show gratitude. The man who returned received an extra blessing - Jesus told him his faith had made him well, suggesting he received spiritual healing along with physical healing.

For Kids to Remember: Don't be like the nine who forgot - always say thank you!

2. Hannah's Prayer of Thanksgiving

Bible Reference: 1 Samuel 1-2

The Story:
Hannah desperately wanted a baby, but she couldn't have children. This made her very sad. Her husband's other wife (people could have more than one wife back then) would tease her about not having children, which made everything worse.

Year after year, Hannah went to the temple and prayed, crying so hard that her lips moved but no sound came out. She made a promise to God: if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God's service.

God answered her prayer! Hannah had a baby boy and named him Samuel. But Hannah didn't forget her promise. Once Samuel was old enough (probably about 3 years old), she brought him to the temple to serve God there. Before she left him, Hannah prayed one of the most beautiful prayers of thanksgiving in the Bible. She praised God for His power, His holiness, and His faithfulness.

Even though it must have been hard to leave her son at the temple, Hannah was so grateful that God had answered her prayer. Her thanksgiving came before she saw how everything would work out. God blessed Hannah with more children, and Samuel grew up to become one of Israel's greatest prophets.

The Lesson:
Hannah teaches us to be grateful even when giving back to God is difficult. She also shows us that we can praise God for answered prayer even before we see the full results. When God gives us what we ask for, we should thank Him and be willing to use His gifts to serve Him.

Read more about Hannah's story on our site.

3. Jesus Feeds 5,000 People

Bible Reference: John 6:1-15

The Story:
A huge crowd of over 5,000 people (not counting women and children, so probably more like 10,000-15,000 total!) had been following Jesus all day, listening to Him teach. It was getting late and everyone was hungry, but they were far from any town.

Jesus' disciples were worried. "Where can we buy enough bread to feed all these people?" they asked. Even if they had enough money (which they didn't), there was no store nearby!

A young boy had five small barley loaves and two small fish - probably his lunch for the day. It wasn't much, but he was willing to share it. Andrew brought the boy to Jesus, though he said, "But how far will this go among so many?"

Here's the amazing part: Before Jesus performed the miracle, He gave thanks! Even though He only had five loaves and two fish to feed thousands of people, Jesus thanked God for it. Then He broke the bread and fish, and His disciples distributed it to the crowd. Everyone ate until they were full, and they collected twelve baskets of leftovers!

The Lesson:
Jesus gave thanks for the little food before He knew it would become enough. This teaches us to be grateful for what we have, even when it seems too small. When we give thanks to God, He can multiply our blessings in ways we never imagined. The boy's willingness to share what little he had, combined with thanksgiving and trust in God, fed thousands of people!

Learn more about Jesus feeding the five thousand.

4. Noah Gives Thanks After the Flood

Bible Reference: Genesis 8:20-22

The Story:
After spending months and months on the ark during the great flood, Noah and his family finally stepped onto dry land. Imagine how good that must have felt! The world was fresh and new, like a new beginning for all of humanity.

The first thing Noah did was build an altar to the Lord. He offered sacrifices from the clean animals and birds, giving thanks to God for protecting his family and all the animals during the flood. This wasn't easy - remember, they didn't have many animals to spare. But Noah wanted to thank God first, before doing anything else.

God was pleased with Noah's gratitude. He smelled the aroma of Noah's offering and made a promise: never again would He destroy all life with a flood. God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of this promise, a reminder that He would always be faithful.

The Lesson:
After surviving something terrible, Noah's first response was thanksgiving. He didn't complain about the hard months on the ark or worry about rebuilding his life. Instead, he thanked God for saving him. This teaches us to give thanks even after difficult times, recognizing that God has brought us through. Gratitude should be our first response, not our last.

5. David's Songs of Thanksgiving

Bible Reference: 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18

The Story:
King David wrote many psalms (songs) to God. One of his most famous thanksgiving songs came after God delivered him from all his enemies, especially King Saul who had tried to kill him for years.

In this song, David praised God using beautiful word pictures. He called God his rock, his fortress, his shield, and his horn of salvation. He sang about how God had rescued him from powerful enemies, pulled him out of deep waters, and brought him into a spacious place.

David didn't just thank God when things were easy. He thanked God for being with him during the scary times, during battles, and when he was running and hiding from enemies. David made thanksgiving a regular part of his life, writing song after song praising God.

The Lesson:
David teaches us that gratitude isn't just for when everything is perfect. We can thank God for His presence during hard times, for His protection, and for eventually delivering us. Writing or singing songs of thanks (even if we're not good singers!) is a wonderful way to express our gratitude to God. Keeping a list of things we're thankful for, like David's psalms, helps us remember God's faithfulness.

6. The Woman Who Poured Perfume on Jesus

Bible Reference: Luke 7:36-50

The Story:
Jesus was eating dinner at a Pharisee's house when a woman who had lived a sinful life learned He was there. She brought an alabaster jar of expensive perfume and stood behind Jesus at His feet, crying. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them.

The Pharisee thought to himself, "If Jesus were really a prophet, He would know what kind of sinful woman is touching Him!" But Jesus knew exactly what the Pharisee was thinking.

Jesus told a story about two people who owed money - one owed a lot, the other a little. When both debts were canceled, Jesus asked, "Which one will love the lender more?" The Pharisee correctly answered, "The one who had the bigger debt forgiven."

Jesus explained that this woman's extravagant act of gratitude showed how much she loved Him because she had been forgiven of so much. The Pharisee, who thought he was good enough on his own, showed no special hospitality or gratitude. Jesus forgave the woman's sins and told her, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

The Lesson:
When we understand how much God has forgiven us, our hearts overflow with gratitude. This woman gave something very expensive and precious to show her thanks. True gratitude sometimes costs us something - our time, our resources, or our pride. The more we realize how much God loves us and has forgiven us, the more grateful we become.

7. Paul and Silas Sing in Prison

Bible Reference: Acts 16:16-40

The Story:
Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into prison just for telling people about Jesus. Their backs were bleeding, their feet were locked in stocks (wooden blocks that held prisoners' feet), and they were in the darkest, most secure part of the prison. They had every reason to feel sorry for themselves or to be angry.

But what did they do? Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God! The other prisoners were listening to them. Instead of complaining, they were thanking and praising God.

Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the prison. All the doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer, thinking all the prisoners had escaped, was about to kill himself. But Paul called out, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

The jailer was amazed. He brought Paul and Silas out and asked, "What must I do to be saved?" That night, he and his entire family became Christians! Their gratitude in the worst circumstances led to an entire family finding Jesus.

The Lesson:
Paul and Silas show us that we can choose gratitude even in the worst situations. They didn't wait until they were released to give thanks - they thanked God while still in chains! Their attitude of gratitude, even in prison, became a powerful testimony that led others to faith. When we maintain a thankful heart during hard times, it shows others that our faith is real.

Read more about Paul and Silas in prison.

8. The Widow's Miraculous Oil

Bible Reference: 2 Kings 4:1-7

The Story:
A widow came to the prophet Elisha with a desperate problem. Her husband had died owing someone money, and now the creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves to pay the debt. She had nothing valuable except a small jar of olive oil.

Elisha gave her strange instructions: "Go, borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."

The widow obeyed. As she poured from her small jar into the borrowed ones, the oil kept flowing! It filled jar after jar after jar. Only when there were no more empty jars did the oil stop flowing. She sold all that oil, paid off her debt, and had enough left over to live on.

The Lesson:
This widow trusted God even when her situation seemed hopeless. She was grateful for the miracle and used it to solve her problem. God provided more than enough - not just to pay the debt but to live on afterward. This teaches us that when we bring the little we have to God with a thankful heart, He can multiply it to meet our needs and more. Gratitude combined with faith opens the door to God's provision.

9. The Healed Blind Beggar

Bible Reference: Mark 10:46-52

The Story:
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who sat by the roadside in Jericho. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" People told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder. He wouldn't let this opportunity pass by!

Jesus stopped and called for him. Bartimaeus threw off his cloak and jumped up, coming to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. Bartimaeus said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

Jesus told him, "Go, your faith has healed you." Immediately, Bartimaeus could see! The Bible says he followed Jesus along the road, praising God. He didn't just get his sight and go home - he showed his gratitude by following Jesus.

The Lesson:
Bartimaeus's gratitude showed itself through action. He followed Jesus, using his newly healed eyes to serve the one who had healed him. Real gratitude doesn't just say "thank you" and move on - it changes how we live. When God blesses us, we should use those blessings to follow and serve Him.

10. Jesus Gives Thanks Before He Dies

Bible Reference: Matthew 26:26-28

The Story:
At the Last Supper, the night before Jesus was crucified, He shared a final meal with His disciples. Jesus knew what was coming - the betrayal, the arrest, the pain, and the death on the cross. He could have been angry or afraid.

But what did Jesus do? He gave thanks. The Bible says, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples." He did the same with the cup of wine.

Even knowing He was about to suffer and die, Jesus gave thanks. He thanked God for the bread and wine, but He was also thanking God for the plan of salvation that His death would accomplish. He remained grateful even facing the cross.

The Lesson:
This is perhaps the most powerful example of gratitude in the Bible. If Jesus could give thanks knowing what was ahead of Him, we can give thanks in any situation. This shows us that gratitude isn't based on comfortable circumstances - it's based on trust in God's plan and His goodness, even when things are hard.

Teaching Kids to Be Grateful

Practical Ways to Develop Gratitude

• Keep a Gratitude Journal: Help your children write or draw three things they're thankful for each day. Make it a bedtime routine.
• Thank You Notes: Encourage kids to write thank-you notes or draw pictures for people who help them - teachers, grandparents, friends, coaches.
• Gratitude Prayers: Before meals and at bedtime, have children thank God for specific blessings. Move beyond "Thank you for this food" to "Thank you for Grandma's visit today" or "Thank you for healing my scraped knee."
• Gratitude Jar: Have a family jar where everyone writes things they're thankful for on slips of paper. Read them together once a week or month.
• Thank God First: When good things happen, immediately say "Thank you, God!" out loud. This builds a habit of recognizing God as the source of blessings.
• Compare and Share: Instead of comparing what they don't have to what others have, teach kids to compare their current blessings with times when they had less.
• Service Projects: Serving others helps kids appreciate what they have. Volunteer at a food bank, visit nursing homes, or help neighbors.

Bible Verses About Gratitude to Memorize

• "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1
• "Give thanks in all circumstances." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• "Every good and perfect gift is from above." - James 1:17
• "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...and be thankful." - Colossians 3:15

Questions for Discussion

Use these questions to discuss gratitude with your children:

• Which story of gratitude did you like best? Why?
• Can you think of a time when someone did something nice for you? Did you thank them?
• What are three things you're grateful for today?
• Why do you think only one leper came back to thank Jesus?
• How can we show gratitude when things are difficult, like Paul and Silas did?
• What's the difference between saying "thank you" with our mouths and showing gratitude with our actions?

The Power of a Grateful Heart

These Bible stories show us that gratitude is more than good manners - it's a powerful spiritual practice that:

• Changes our perspective: Instead of focusing on what's wrong, we see what's right
• Strengthens our faith: Remembering God's past blessings helps us trust Him for the future
• Improves relationships: Grateful people are more pleasant to be around
• Pleases God: Thanksgiving is worship
• Brings joy: Grateful people are happier people
• Witnesses to others: A thankful spirit in hard times shows others that faith is real

When we develop grateful hearts, we become more like Jesus, who gave thanks even in the face of suffering. We recognize that every breath, every blessing, and every new day is a gift from God.

For more inspiration, read these Thanksgiving Bible stories for kids and discover 8 Bible stories to help your kids be thankful.

A Prayer of Gratitude

Pray this prayer with your children:

"Dear God, thank You for all the wonderful blessings in our lives. Thank You for our family, our home, our food, and our friends. Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus. Help us to have grateful hearts like the people in these Bible stories. Teach us to say thank you, not just with our words, but with our actions. When things are hard, help us to trust You and still give thanks. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Remember This

Gratitude is a choice we make every day. We can choose to focus on what we don't have, or we can choose to give thanks for what we do have. The Bible teaches us to "give thanks in all circumstances" - not for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. No matter what's happening in our lives, we can always find something to be thankful for.

As you go through this week, challenge yourself and your children to look for reasons to be grateful. You might be surprised at how many blessings you discover when you start looking for them!

Explore more Bible stories with moral lessons for children and short Bible stories for children to continue your family's spiritual growth.