What are you thankful for this year? November is one of my favorite months because it truly is the month that people focus on their blessings and express their gratitude for those blessings.
This year my family has been given many blessings that we are very grateful for. Our “forever” home that we are building is almost finished (we were hoping to be in for Thanksgiving but it looks like it’s going to be a week or two after). Nonetheless, in the season of new beginnings, I want to start some new Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. I think traditions are important because it’s something that keeps a family together. It’s creating our own healthy family “roots”.
Here are 4 Thanksgiving traditions we’ll be starting this year:
1. Create a Book of Thanks
I’ve wanted to do this for a few years and this year we are going to do it! All you need to do to make your own Book of Thanks is find a book (whether you make a cute, scrapbook, journal, or a notebook doesn’t matter as long as you have a book)! Each year on Thanksgiving, write down the date and have each member of your family list what they are thankful for.
Not only is this simple but it’s fun to see how our families grow!
2. Decorate our home with Bible verses about thankfulness.
I find it easier to focus on thankfulness when I’m reminded of the wonderful blessings I have received. I’m also a very visual person and by having Bible verses around the house, I’m reminded to give thanks for those blessings. A few of my favorite NIV verses are:
- Colossians 3:15-17 “ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
- Psalms 107:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
- Psalm 69:30 “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”
- Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
3. Have a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt.
Come up with all the Thanksgiving items you can think of! Search for turkey, cornucopia, pumpkin pie, someone watching football, etc. Each family will have different items that go along with their Thanksgiving. Get creative and have fun!
4. Decorate a gingerbread house.
This is something we have done several times during the Christmas season and the kids love it. Unfortunately with the busyness of Christmas, sometimes this has to wait until Christmas vacation. Instead of waiting until after Christmas, I’d like them to be enjoyed throughout the Christmas season. (Plus it will help keep the kids from being bored after lunch!)
In addition to these new traditions, we have a few Thanksgiving traditions that we will continue doing. Each year we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and have a great meal (which is something to be thankful for by itself!) That evening when we get home we watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together as a family. The next day we set up our Christmas tree. It’s a fun time to turn on the Christmas music and enjoy getting out the special ornaments and experiencing that magical Christmas feeling.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?