Until you’re ready to eat, there are so many different ways you can celebrate all you’re thankful for on Thanksgiving Day. Here are a few ideas for involving your family in activities that highlight the spirit of the day.
1. Take time to go around the table and let each person express what they’re most thankful for. You can do this as a way to bless the food, or as dinner conversation. The idea here is to get everyone thinking about what the day really means and all they are blessed with. Sometimes, even on Thanksgiving, we get ‘lost in the sauce’ (as my sister says), allowing ourselves to be so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the kitchen that we forget to really stop and recognize all we’re thankful for.
2. Send thank you notes. We are surrounded by people who make our lives better. What way to truly thank them for being the blessing they are than to send a handwritten thank you note expressing gratitude for all that they do? Whether it’s a family member who has been there to support you, a supervisor or co-worker who has looked out for you, or a friend you can’t imagine living life without, take time to personally express how much they mean to you in a tangible way.
3. Pay it forward. It’s always a great idea to give to those less fortunate by volunteering. Many shelters, co-ops, nonprofits and churches collect and deliver food and grocery gift cards to families in need leading up to Thanksgiving Day. And if you’re not the one hosting your family’s dinner, you can often volunteer with those kinds of organizations to help serve a hot Thanksgiving meal to individuals and families in your community. Check your county’s volunteer center to see what opportunities might be available!
There’s so much we have to be thankful for, we should make it a point to take some time out of our hectic holiday schedules to stop and give God thanks for our many blessings. Beyond a rushed grace or a hasty recapitulation of the things you’re happy to have, take some time to give real thought and heartfelt thanks for the things you really appreciate in your life. Then find a way to express your gratitude that benefits or encourages someone else.