A Thanksgiving Idea

Giving thanks can be done year round and does not need to be reserved just for Thanksgiving. While this is an idea for the holiday itself, we hope you'll practice giving thanks daily in your household!

Thanksgiving is more than just a delicious meal. It’s a time to pause and remember who God is and what He has done. It’s a time to be grateful. And reflect on what we have, instead of what we don’t have.

Build the habit of gratitude in your kids

• Model it in how we talk around our children.
• Have time as a family devoted to giving thanks.
• Talk openly about God’s faithfulness and love.

When we focus on giving thanks we…

• develop a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness in ourselves and our children.
• resist negativity and anxiety and replace it with a simple trust in God’s faithfulness and love.

In James 1:17, the Bible tells us that “Every good and perfect gift is from God. This kind of gift comes down from the Father who created the heavenly lights.”

Read this verse to your children and then help them recognize all that God has given to them. This is one way to not only deepen their love for God, but to help them focus on all of life’s beauty and goodness.

You can also watch this 12 minute video as a family to remind you of all the things you have to be thankful for. Is your cup half empty or half full? - Mecklenburg Community Church.  It includes a simple illustration from Pastor Jonathan to show just how much we ALL have to be grateful for. 

Make this Thanksgiving a little more THANKSgiving

Thanksgiving Tablecloth of Memories

Materials needed:

1. Plain White Tablecloth
2. Fabric Markers 

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry tablecloth.
2. Before you bring out the food, place the white tablecloth over your table.
3. Have each person place their hand on the table.
4. Have each person use a fabric marker to trace the outline of their hand on the tablecloth.
5. Have each person write a few things they are thankful for inside their hand trace and the year it is.  Help younger children as needed.
6. Go around the table and have each person share what they wrote in their hand trace.
7. Close out the activity with prayer.  Ask each person to put their hand back on their drawing and thank God in prayer for their blessings.
8. Save the tablecloth and bring it out each year and repeat the steps.

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