Here are several ideas to help give thanks and celebrate Thanksgiving in your heart.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, I want to encourage you give thanks even for the things you usually take for granted. Because we often overlook so many of our blessings, it will take some conscious effort on our part to truly reflect.
First, slow down. It’s hard to be thankful in a hurry.
Second, get quiet. Block out the noise of life for a while. (Remember how to use the DVR? I know you won’t want to miss the parades and the games.) You can do this as a family or individually. Here are a couple of suggestions to help get a thankful heart going.
- If you have small kids (or if you just like chocolate), give each person a pile of M&Ms or other small treat. Tell them they are to eat them slowly, one at a time, and with each piece of candy, think of one thing for which they are grateful. These can be shared silently or aloud in a group. It’s pretty cool thing to try. You might just be amazed.
- Another idea is to read Psalm 136.This Psalm has a refrain, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever.” The writer years ago inserted throughout the psalm things that he remembered that reminded Him of God’s goodness in his life, and framing each remembrance with the “Give thanks” refrain. Ask each family member to rewrite the Psalm inserting their personal remembrances to personalize into a Thanksgiving prayer.
You are blessed. Give thanks.
Rev. Greg Griffin is a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor and Forgiveness Coach in private practice in Marietta, GA. His specialty is relationship repair and rescue- helping partners, spouses, and parents and their adolescents. He’s also the author of Dungeon Times Survival Guide, and Vital Faith.