When a heart feels left out, what can stop the stampede of grumbly thoughts? Prayers of thankfulness and a lasso of gratitude can change any child’s day—and life!

“Ugh! Bad thoughts, you don’t belong here.

Get. Out. Of. My. HEAD.

You aren’t helping at all.

Go away!” the heart said.

And that seemed to work.

Until …

The party looks so fun! Full of party food, games, and people! But one little cowboy is uninvited and oh-so-unhappy. Bad thoughts threaten to carry his heart away, but God helps him learn to lasso those thoughts with thankful prayers. See how the power of gratitude can help us all fight off envy and discontentment with hope and joy.

Parents and teachers looking for ways to help kids navigate big feelings will love the StrongHeart Stories, a series of illustrated spiritual tales by Beth Guckenberger and Irina Mileo. Each book helps children develop the language and biblical tools they need—Scripture, worship, rest, confession, prayer, and community—to be strong for the heart battles they face. In The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts, based on 2 Corinthians 10:5, children learn how to be thankful for the good all around them instead of being carried away by negativity. Let’s train an emerging generation to grow strong hearts and sound minds and be free from the power of the enemy!