Get ready! You are in for a remarkable feast—not the variety served at a lavish buffet, but the portion served from life itself. Readers responded to my question:
How do you keep Thankful in Thanksgiving?
With permission, I offer you a smorgasbord of ideas from nine lovely women. Their seasoned wisdom will not disappoint! Proceeding in alphabetical order …
I would love to give my number one tip for remaining thankful, not only for Thanksgiving, but for life in general. Life is fast moving; the number of commitments, events, and family members that are seen over the holiday season can be overwhelming. It can become easy to run through the motions with family and friends. My number one tip is to slow down! Savor each and every minute with friends and family. This grounds me, helps me realize how great life is, and how great are the people I share it with. It also allows for memories to become more concrete in my mind, rather than a glimpse in time. So, no matter how many dinners, parties, or houses I am obliged to visit, I make sure to slow down and appreciate them all. Give them each the time and attention they deserve—even it if is only for a few short hours before moving on to the next.
-Sileen Dowis
For many years, I had very high expectations for our family time together at the holidays, and I was always disappointed. Eventually, I decided to have no expectations, really, just to be thankful that we could all be together. Ever since I changed my attitude, I’ve experienced the Lord's blessing over and over again.
-Candice Holtz
We go around our table and everyone tells two things he/she is thankful for. Though perhaps not very creative, this is reflective. And, as for me, I'm keeping Thankful in Thanksgiving by ordering a cooked turkey and dressing! Then, all I have to do is prepare sides and pies.
-Betty Hower
When I've been alone in my kitchen preparing for Thanksgiving, either at my house or someone else's, I've learned to pray for the people I'm going to be with while I'm chopping, stirring, making mounds of cornbread dressing... It's a reminder to be thankful for these people in my life! I also use it as an occasion for praying for the loved ones who are far-flung and are not going to be at my table. Some tears may fall into the cornbread, but that's okay.
-Vivian Hyatt
Back story - In her late 80’s, my mother began to dread Thanksgiving because the whole family (15 of us) gathered in her home, 8 being out of town guests - some of whom stayed in her home, and she cooked the majority of the meal. Therefore, one year I offered to host Thanksgiving in my home, and prepare the meal. I told her I’d make it work. My mother was relieved. Therefore, the remaining years that my parents lived, we ate Thanksgiving dinner in my home, and I cooked the whole meal myself. I loved doing it.
Here’s the tip for How to Keep Thankful in Thanksgiving: I always prayed for the success of the meal - a juicy, delicious turkey coming out of the oven just in time to put the dressing and other casseroles in, the dressing cooked just right, and all the other dishes ready at the same time. I also made homemade rolls, and they had to be ready after the blessing was said and everyone was ready to serve their plates.
And you know what? God was ever faithful! With one oven and a variety of dishes for 15, everything turned out perfectly, and I knew that only a gracious Heavenly Father could have made it happen. The success of the meal made me one THANKFUL hostess.
-Sandra Jarrett
Last year, we started what we hope will become a tradition with our kiddos, who are now 4 and 2. We made a big turkey out of butcher block paper and hung it on the wall, low enough for the kids to color and put stickers on it. Together, we wrote things we were thankful for on note cards and taped them up on the turkey. It wasn't a "Pinterest-Worthy" project, but the kids loved it, and it helped us to talk, think, and pray together about the blessings God has given us. We kept it up for several weeks because they loved it so much!
-Kate Jones
Whether entertaining or being the guest doesn’t matter... have no expectations. I know you can’t get rid of them all, but do your best, and pray, God don’t let me miss You in this gathering, because I think it should look a certain way, which is usually close to perfect! Then, sit back, continue to pray, and watch God show up the way He pleases! My job is to be a blessing, however that looks. Oh yes, have phenomenal coffee... people are worth it!
-Cymp Stemple
We try keep Thankful in Thanksgiving by “giving” in some way. In recent years we’ve helped to pack sustainable meals for the improvised areas around the world at Hands Against Hunger, or helping at our churches annual turkey outreach, passing out complete turkey dinners to under resourced apartments near our community. We give thanks when the Lord uses us to bless others!
-Laurie Stokes
Feel free to buy a pumpkin pie!
-Karey Yeats
Living With Eternal Intentionality®
Now, it is your turn. As you enjoy the afterglow from this wonderful menu of experience, please join the discussion and tell us: How do you keep Thankful in Thanksgiving? Leave your comment below.
