Thanksgiving will be here three weeks! I look forward to the day filled traditions, good food, and family. I have some special memories of childhood days gathered with all the relatives . Back in the day, we all dressed up in our “good” clothes for these family get-togethers. This was a special occasion, after all!
When I’m visiting with my mom I love looking at the old albums containing photos from those gatherings. I look deep into the pictures at the tables, the decor, the apron my grandma had on. I sometimes wish I could jump back to that time to hear the chatter, the cousins playing, the parade playing on the television and the men talking about football or their latest hunting trip.
Thank you. Two powerful little words that mean so much to the hearer. Recently on Instagram, a gentleman posted this:
I’ve been living with Gen Z-er’s the last couple of years and I love these guys, they’re super guys, but there’s a generational weakness – and one of those is the expression of gratitude – saying thank you and writing thank you notes when people do you good.
Remember when you were a child and you couldn’t wait to become a teenager? If you could have, you would have skipped from ten to thirteen so you could enjoy all the wonder of the teen years! But in so doing, you would have missed out on all that is special about being 10, 11 and 12. It’s the blessing of the entrance into the teen years. You are changing and it’s pretty wonderful.
In our society, Christmas is the “thirteenth birthday” everyone’s wanting to hurry to, and in the rush, Thanksgiving is becoming forgotten. If you have your tree up right now, I’m not shaming you, but I want to encourage us all to make much of this wonderful holiday at the end of the month. I’m hoping I can inspire you to relish the wonder of Thanksgiving.
My mind’s eye envisions holidays in the past that included paper turkeys decorating the table, drippy candles and real acorns that also dotted the tablescape. Simple name cards mark the place where each guest will sit. The smell of pumpkin pie wafts from the kitchen. Colored leaves ironed in wax paper are hung in the windows. It’s simple and wonderful and very much anticipated,
Have you ever gotten past a “big” holiday only to realize that you missed it? Oh, you celebrated with the food, the decorations and the flare, but you got so caught up in all the trappings that you didn’t really celebrate the true holiday. I think we’ve all been there a time or two (or twenty)!
In order to help us not regret “missing Thanksgiving,” I think it’s important to do some thinking and planning NOW to ensure that the holiday will be celebrated in a way that is a blessing to all who gather because we focused on what was really, truly important. That would not mean the lumpy gravy, the squashed rolls or the dry turkey, but on giving thanks. It’s just so easy to sit down to a bountiful table, everyone starving and ready to dive in, have the blessing for the meal, finish with dessert and football and totally overlook stopping for worship and givng of thanks to our great God for ALL His blessings.
Let me make a couple suggestions to help you plan for this time – no matter the size of the group that gathers.
If you’re married, talk to your husband about how you could incorporate a time of giving thanks into your day. Ask for his input and depend on him to help implement this (if possible).
Consider the food. If the meal is hot and on the table, the time of the blessing might not be the best time to also go around and have everyone share the things for which they’re thankful. That’s spoken from the hostess side who wants the food to be hot! Perhaps during the meal or afterwards would be better.
Let everyone that’s coming know that they need to be thinking about the blessings they could share. Being prepared is helpful for everyone.
Reading a portion of Scripture after dinner would be a great tradition. Psalm 34, 44:4-8, 92, 95, 100, 111, or 138 would all be good choices.
Sing a hymn together. If your family isn’t musical, use Alexa to play it and join in singing!
Spend time praying for one another.
My family has had what we call “Puff Moments” for many years on Thanksgiving Day. We gather in the living room after supper and share our blessings from the past year. There are inevitably many tears shed as we rehearse the ways God has answered prayer or helped in trials. The Puffs get passed around the room! What a sweet time it always is.
Plan ahead and prepare your own heart and that of your guests so you won’t miss out on giving thanks this Thanksgiving.
Share one blessing from this past year. I have my Puff ready!
Forty years later I still remember my guilt at realizing months after I got married that I had forgotten to write a thank you note for a belated wedding gift. Sadly, my embarrassment kept me from writing. I’ve since learned that a late note is better than none at all! It dawned on me this week that I had not written a note to a sweet friend who had given us a gracious gift. While I know she loves me enough not to judge me for my neglect, I quickly wrote the note to remedy my lazy gratitude.
We’ve all been guilty, I’m sure, of neglecting to write a thank you note after receiving a gift. Perhaps it’s busyness or forgetfulness or perhaps it’s a third area to blame – “What do I say?” If you haven’t asked that question, I bet your child has! There are really only three components needed for a thank you note to do its job.
Say thank you for the gift That would include gratitude for remembering the occasion for which it was given. “It was so sweet of you to send the bouquet of flowers. That made my birthday so special!”
Say what you will do with the gift or why you appreciated it. “The slippers will be so cozy in the upcoming cold temperatures!”
Say something about the person who sent the gift. “I’m so glad the Lord gave me such a dear friend in my sister!”
Those three components will make the recipient know:you received the gift (if it was sent), you loved the gift, and that you appreciate them.
Gratitude accomplished!!
Have you ever realized you forgot to write a thank you note? Did you send a late one or none at all?
RefreshHer 