Thanksgiving is coming at us fast! To continue the theme of a Christian approach to the holidays, let’s talk about planning a Christ Centered Thanksgiving.
The themes around this holiday are innocent and wholesome. It’s supposed to be about family and a spirit of gratefulness.
The theme of the life of Christ was not about how to make his own life comfortable and happy, but instead, he looked for ways to serve and bless others
It’s easy to get caught up in our society’s promptings for feasting and Black Friday shopping, but Thanksgiving can be so much more. My favorite author has this to say,
“Now a season is coming when we shall have our principles tested. Let us begin to think about what we can do for God’s needy ones. We can make them through ourselves recipients of God’s blessings.” AH747.4
This is the time of year to think of how you can be a channel to distribute the love and kindness of God to those in need.
It is easy enough to sit around a snug table filled with family and food and be thankful in your heart. But why keep this warmth and blessing to ourselves? It will take more effort and creativity but it will be well worth it!
So what are some ways that as a family or homeschool group you can be that channel of blessing?
1) Look for a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen and spend the day helping feed someone else.
2) Put together a basket of food to take to a shelter that they can distribute and use.
3) Thinking of people on the streets, collect supplies like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other necessary toiletries, add in some snacks a water bottle, and Christian literature and distribute to people on the streets. Here’s a link for some great ideas on what to put in the care package.
4) Our family tries to think of someone in particular to invite to our Thanksgiving Dinner that might be lonely, like an elderly widow.
5) Make small gifts to take your neighbors like mini loaves of banana bread. People are in a very “giving and receiving” mood from now until January so give them a Christian tract as well! Offer to pray with them and take a few moments to hear their worries and concerns.
Those are all ideas for Thanksgiving outreach.
But this is also a time to minister at home as we often have a mixed group at our family celebrations.
Here are some ideas for bringing Christ to our Thanksgiving Table.
Here are some ideas for bringing Christ to our Thanksgiving table!
6) Singing! There are some beautiful hymns that focus on being thankful to God. Do your children have music lessons of some kind? This is a great time to have them learn one of these hymns to play on Thanksgiving Day.
7) Feeling crafty? How about cutting out fall colored leaves from construction paper and having each family member write what they are thankful for and displaying them somewhere like in a window or on a wreath? Here are some links to leaf templates that you can print and instructions.
https://sweettmakesthree.com/gratitude-tree-thanksgiving-tree-craft/
http://281fourthstreet.blogspot.com/2012/11/thankful-thursday.html
8) How about writing a Gratitude letter? Here’s a link for more on that.
9) Take a walk with your family after the meal and spend some time gathering items from nature and take turns giving spiritual object lessons. Then use the items to decorate your table!
10) Make place cards for each person coming to your thanksgiving dinner and include Bible verse that gives praise!
Here’s some more advise from the same author…
“Make an offering to your best Friend; acknowledge His bounties; show your gratitude for His favors; bring a thank offering to God…”
She goes on to suggest that rather than have a lavish meal that breaks the bank, keep it simple.
Then use the money you might have spent on expensive extras to give as a thank offering to the one who has provided so generously for us!
No matter how you choose to spend your day, I hope you will plan a special Thank Offering to give to your home church or to a special ministry. Keep Christ at the center of your fellowship and it will be a day to remember.
Do you have any meaningful Thanksgiving traditions? Do you plan to do any special outreach on this day? Please share in the comment section below!
As always, subscribe to my blog so you can keep up to date on new posts! I pray that you all have a blessed day with your families!
Interested in reading more about a christain approach to the holidays? Here are two more posts! Reformation Day, a Halloween Alternative, Should Christian’s Participate in the Holidays?
