Gratitude for Modern Appliances

In the last 24 hours, I’ve used a stove, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher–some of them multiple times! Most of us can’t imagine our daily lives without the use of these appliances, yet we take them for granted all the time.

I’m sure it’s easy for our kids to take these things for granted, too. Have you ever talked to your kids about how people used to have to preserve, prepare, and cook food without modern appliances? Or about how all washing of clothes and dishes had to be done completely by hand? It is good for them to know! It’s also good for them to be aware that there are still millions of people around the world who live their daily lives without any of these conveniences.

As you are going through your daily routines, take some time to consider how these machines have made our lives so much easier and have freed us up to use our time in other ways. Express gratitude for these blessings! And encourage your kids to think about how their lives would be different without these appliances. Maybe even challenge the family to go without using an appliance for a day or two, just to help instill both awareness and gratitude. That could be interesting! Let me know how it goes.