{"id":9380,"date":"2013-11-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-13T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites-stage.familylife.com\/flministries\/?p=9380"},"modified":"2013-11-13T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-11-13T06:00:00","slug":"14-favorite-ideas-to-create-a-meaningful-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/articles\/topics\/holidays\/featured-holidays\/thanksgiving\/14-favorite-ideas-to-create-a-meaningful-thanksgiving\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Favorite Ideas to Create a Meaningful Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

1. Start Thanksgiving Day by spending some time with God.<\/strong> Read through Psalms that talk about giving thanks to God: Psalm 50:14; 69:30; 95:2; 100:4; 147:7. And then focus on Psalm 9:1, which tells us, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Write down some of the ways that God has worked in your life and your family.<\/p>\n

2. List God’s blessings.<\/strong> As you approach Thanksgiving, here’s one way to cultivate a thankful heart: Spend time listing God’s blessings in your life. And don’t stop until you’ve listed at least 10-15. The exercise will force you to think creatively about God’s care and provision\u2014even in small things.<\/p>\n

Listing God’s blessings in your life forces you to focus on Him, and in the process you catch a glimpse of His love, care, and compassion.<\/p>\n

Then during your Thanksgiving meal, share this list with your family. Read a couple of Scriptures about giving thanks, and then ask those at the table, “What is one way God has blessed you lately?”<\/p>\n

3. Five kernels of corn. <\/strong>“We often ate Thanksgiving dinner later in the day with my parents. So we would always have brunch earlier in the day. Just before our family began eating, we would all write (on special place cards) five things for which we were thankful to God. On each of our plates were five kernels of corn\u2014a reminder of the Pilgrims’ daily ration during one of their first difficult winters. As we ate, we passed a basket around the table, and each person placed one kernel of corn at a time into the basket and told of one thing for which he or she was thankful. The basket went around the table five times.” (Barbara Rainey)<\/p>\n

4. Feathers of thanks.<\/strong> This idea is popular with small children. Using colored construction paper, create a paper turkey to place on the wall. Then cut out several feathers for the turkey. Give a feather to each person in your family, and have them either write or draw something they are thankful to God for. When they are finished, have them tape the feathers to the turkey.<\/p>\n

5. Thank God for each other. <\/strong>Go around the table and say something you’re thankful for about the person on the right. This is not always easy for siblings to do, but it’s a great exercise to remind them to be thankful for their family.<\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> Pass on special memories.<\/strong> The Thanksgiving meal is a good opportunity to ask older members of the family to tell stories about family history. Ask your parents and grandparents questions like:<\/p>\n