"Let Us Thank God"

was created especially for

Jessica Ann Smith

at the age of 6

With love from

Mommy and Daddy

March 31, 2002

Hi Jessica.  My name is Gabriel.  Mommy and Daddy have provided this book to you in Atlanta so you may learn some of the reasons that we give thanks to God.

The first gift God gave you was life.

     You were a gift of God to your parents.  They love you no matter what.  Their love and protection are two more of God's gifts.

     Because there is life, let us thank God

4

At sunset, God paints the sky in brilliant colors and does it again at sunrise.  Jessica, did you know that God uses all of the colors there are when He makes a rainbow?

     Because we can see, let us thank God.

7

     God gave you ears to hear.  Sounds are all around, like singing birds, meowing cats, buzzing bees, beeping horns, musical instruments, ringing bells and much more.

     Because we can hear, let us thank God.

8

     God gave you a nose to smell with.  Some smells are nice, like flowers and chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.  Other smells are not so nice like Jessica's dirty socks and the spray of a skunk.  PU.

     Because we can smell, let us thank God.

11

     God gave you a tongue to taste with.  There are all different kinds of things to taste, like smooth chocolate candy bars, sour lemons, tangy oranges, and salty popcorn.  Do you like ice cream, Jessica?  Your tongue comes in very handy when you have an ice cream cone to lick.  If you didn't have a tongue, you couldn't talk, sing, or shout!

     Because we can taste, let us thank God.

12

      God gave you hands to feel with.  Everything around you has a different feeling, like the rough surface of a stone, the softness of a feather, and the smoothness of your favorite slide.  Feeling can also tell you if something is hot, like your mashed potatoes, or cold, like your popsicle.

     Because we can touch, let us thank God.

15

     God gave you animals to share your world.  He made useful farm animals like horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens.  He made wild animals that live in green forests, rolling fields, hot deserts and lands of frozen ice.  God filled the air with many kinds of birds and filled the water with fish and lots of other facinating creatures.  But God didn't stop there, Jessica.

16

     God made some animals as special friends.  We call them pets.  A pet could be a dog, cat, hamster or guinea pig.  Some people keep exotic pets like snakes, turtles, ferrets, and iguanas.

     Because we have Scruffy, let us thank God.

19

     God gave you friends to play with, Jessica.  You can have a lot of fun times with your friends.  But even friends are not perfect.  Sometimes you might disagree and even get angry with each other.  God gave us another wonderful gift called forgiveness.

     Because you have friends like Amy, Sarah and Jimmy, let us thank God.

20

    God filled the world with other people too; people who deliver the mail addressed to Jessica, and the farmers who grow the food you eat.  God gave some people the gift of helping others; like the police, fire fighters and rescue people who work to keep you safe.  And God gave you doctors and nurses to take care of you when you are sick.

     Because we have people who care for you, let us thank God.

23

     God gave us places to worship with others and learn about Him.  There are teachers there who will help you learn how to talk to God.  This is called prayer.

     Because we have prayer, let us thank God.

24

      Sometimes bad things happen that hurt us, like if you stub your toe.  It's okay to cry, Jessica.  Also, God has given us choices and the will to make them.  He has given us a set of rules to follow.  They are the Ten Commandments.  Jessica, He made you smart enough to know right from wrong.

     Because we have the strength to choose right over wrong, let us thank God.

27

God has given you many gifts, Jessica.  All of them together cannot compare with His greatest gift of all.  God gave you the gift of eternal life.  Even when your body is gone you will live on in spirit with God.  All God asks of you is to believe in Him.

28

   Jessica's Thank You Prayer

Dear God,

For all the things in life,

that you bring us all each day,

I want to thank you God, for making life this way.

Thank you for my family,

my many friends and pets,

Thank you for the doctors

and the lawyers and the vets,

Thank you for the animals

and even for the snakes,

And thank you for the fish that swim

in all the streams and lakes.

Thank you for the faith and hope

and healing that you bring,

Thank you for the teachers and

the lessons that they sing

And thank you for the gift of life,

your gift beyond compare,

But most of all

thank you for me,

and thanks for being there.

31

The End.