Years ago, I managed a parent’s morning out program at church, and my role included curriculum and craft planning. Oh, how I loved fall’s inspiration. I didn’t have to look beyond my front yard and calendar for ideas – leaves changing color always put on a spectacular show, and the Thanksgiving holiday built an easy theme of “thankfulness” for our toddlers.

As a mom of three, I always loved whatever crafts my kids brought home. Is there anything cuter than a turkey created from a little one’s hand or an excessively embellished construction paper maple leaf? (Though glitter might just be a teacher’s sparkly payback to parents for a classroom full of rambunctious children.)

I’m one of those people who genuinely appreciates “the reason for the season” when it comes to holidays, and at the heart of Thanksgiving is gratitude. Maybe it’s hokey, but I truly love hearing what people are thankful for as we circle around the table, drawn together by family tradition.

Turkey, dressing, and all the fixings are a fine feast for the body, but conversation and connection among people you love is a life-giving feast for the soul.

Old Testament to New, the Bible has a lot to say about thankfulness; in the ESV translation, there are 162 mentions of some form of the word “thanks.” That tells me it’s important to God. And, what’s important to God, should be important to you and me.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” In a world that seems to be increasingly, well, rude, it is more essential than ever to instill gratitude and godliness in our children. True, children are most captive to a parent’s authority while living at home, but we can still influence adult kids whenever we’re together. When we model godly attributes, it continues to reinforce what they learned when they were young.

It’s equally important to remember that your influence isn’t limited to children in your life. Everyone we encounter can be impacted by how we live and how we treat them.

Even if you’re in the midst of a really hard season – especially if you’re in the midst of a really hard season – it’s important to look for reasons to be thankful and to express your gratitude to God.

So, with the Thanksgiving holiday nearing, regardless of who you’ll be celebrating with, why not be intentional about encouraging a thankful heart?

Here are a few fun ideas that will engage family and friends of all ages:

Make a Thankful Box. Over the years, submissions to our Thankful Box were “required” before eating Thanksgiving dinner. Paper, pens, and any old box will do. Multiple submissions are encouraged. Over dessert, while everyone is still seated at the table, it is so much fun to pull slips from the box and read what everyone contributes. We did it anonymously, and there’s an added measure of fun to guess who submitted the more creative entries.

Create a Thankful Banner. Tape a poster board or large sheet of craft paper in a spot where everyone gathers, making sure it’s at a reachable height for all. Have colorful markers nearby. Write “I am thankful for…” in the center of the banner, and direct everyone to add their own ideas. We did this for the first time last year, and I left it up for months after Thanksgiving. (Our children all live out of town and this was a sweet little way to keep their presence near – bless my mama’s heart!) What I didn’t expect were the comments from friends who saw the banner long after Thanksgiving was over. They said things like, “We need to do something like that!” and “What a great idea!” It showed me how you can guide others to focus on something meaningful and gently point them to Jesus through the answers you write on the banner.

Sprinkle your table with “thankful” Bible verses. As I mentioned, the ESV translation lists 162 Bible verses about thanksgiving. A simple way to focus on gratitude is to print out your favorite verses and place them around your table. You could also ask friends and family ahead of time to think about their favorite “thankful” verse and then share them during your Thanksgiving meal.

Include a poetry slam. Prior to your Thanksgiving celebration, invite guests to write a gratitude-focused poem. Now before you dismiss this idea, I can tell you from experience your guests might surprise you. While I’ve never done this for Thanksgiving, I’ve thrown out the challenge to our missional community (small group), and they far exceeded my expectations. I suggested writing haikus because they’re only three lines, but everyone was free to do whatever they wanted. The creativity of those both old and young was impressive. Try this, and you’ll be delighted by the response.

What are your traditions or practices that cultivate gratitude among your family and friends?

It pleases God when we express our gratitude for what He has done for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. When we understand the gospel’s good news, how can we not be thankful?

So, this year as we gather around tables, when many of us are fighting hard battles, let’s find fun ways to focus on faith, family, and gratitude. The impact may linger long after the table is cleared and the dishes are washed.

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