This past weekend in our gatherings, Alex Absalom and I shared several traditions that may help make the Thanksgiving holiday even more meaningful. Throughout the week, as I asked people if they had any Thanksgiving traditions, I received some fascinating answers: “We do our best just to not fight on Thanksgiving,” “We’re a young family–we don’t have any traditions yet,” “We eat, drink, watch football and sleep.” You get the drift. So, here’s a list of activities/reflections that will hopefully help us all give thanks to the Giver of every good thing.
*Before eating, stand around your dinner table in a circle. Take turns sharing something you are thankful for from the past year. (Even small children can participate in this one.)
*On Thanksgiving morning, call people who are in your life and tell them you are thankful for them (each call should be only 1-3 minutes–or hey, talk as long as you like!).
*Read a Psalm about giving thanks. You can do this alone or with friends and family. Psalm 100 is a great start.
*Invite someone over. You will be amazed at how many people have no plans for Thanksgiving.
*Bake an extra pie and deliver it to a neighbor, a shut-in, a co-worker.
*Help your children or grandchildren or neighbor children make hand print turkeys on construction paper. Write a thankful note on the back of each handprint and give them to neighbors, family and friends.
*Cover your dinner table with a white paper table cloth. Have lots of crayons on the table as well. Encourage everyone to draw a picture of something for which they are thankful.
*Lots of churches deliver Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving Day. Be a “deliverer.”
*Sit down at some time on Thanksgiving Day and make a list of things for which you are thankful. Thank God.
What Thanksgiving ideas or traditions, can you share with the rest of us?