Baden Powell on Gratefulness

From Baden-Powell, in Scouting for Boys

In doing your duty towards man, be helpful and generous, and always be grateful for any kindness done to you, and be careful to show that you are grateful. Remember again that a present given to you is not yours until you have thanked the giver for it.

When is the last time you took a few moments to thank God for what he has given you?

Baden-Powell on Religion

In "Scouting For Boys" Baden-Powell wrote the following:

Religion seems a very simple thing:

First: Love and serve God. Second: Love and serve your neighbor.

In doing your duty to God always be grateful to Him. Whenever you enjoy a pleasure or a good game, or succeed in doing a good thing, thank Him for it, if only with a word or two, just as you say grace at a meal.

Where does religion come into Scouting?

When asked where religion came into Scouting and Guiding, Robert Baden- Powell, the founder of Scouting replied:

"It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding."

Just as with other values in Scouting, faith is a core principle. It is not a piece of gear that we only pull out of our backpack on Sunday mornings during a worship service, or once a year during scout Sunday. That doesn't mean that we should be holding talks on theological principals during a backpacking trip. But when working with your scouts and planning your program, remember that faith has a part there too.

Have you encouraged boys to lead grace before meals? Have you asked boys to step up as a chaplain's assistant as a position of responsibility within the troop? Does your troop pack up and get out of camp early and skip the scout's own service on Sunday mornings? If a scout wandered over to the adult tents, is it possible they might catch some language they probably shouldn't hear?

I know I'm not perfect at this by any means, but I'd encourage you to make sure you are setting an excellent example for your scouts, and make sure the program in your unit makes room for God, and not just when they say the Scout Oath.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.