For most, Thanksgiving is about delicious turkey and whipped cream-topped slices of pumpkin pie, but what about the giving thanks part? With the holiday just a couple weeks away, it’s important to start thinking about what we’re grateful for and how we plan to show it this season. 2020 has been a tough year for most, which makes it more important than ever to count our blessings. In the midst of all the craziness, we encourage you to take a step back and remember all of the wonderful things in life that you have to be thankful for. This week’s Encounter Church blog shares some valuable ways to show that you’re grateful this Turkey Day.
Encounter Church is a non-denominational church in Denver that offers a variety of church services, from online sermons to church ministries for all ages. Read our blog post and join our non-denominational church in Denver! We hope you find these tips helpful.
Voice Your Gratitude Using a Bible Verse
There are endless verses within the Bible that allude to gratitude. After you’ve said your Thanksgiving prayer, why take some time to share a meaningful Thanksgiving Bible verse?
We recommend giving some real thought to which verse you choose in order to get the most of this. Recognizing your blessings is important, and we believe choosing a relatable Bible verse can help. However, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to the verse you choose, as long as you pick one that you can find meaning behind!
Make it fun! Sit around the fire with blankets or enjoy a Thanksgiving cocktail while each member of your party takes turns sharing the verse that stood out most to them.
If you’re unable to gather with family due to COVID-19, we recommend sharing over FaceTime or Zoom! Even though this year’s holiday might look a little different, it’s still important to stop and share all you’ve got to be thankful for!
Send Cards or Letters to Those You Miss Letting Them Know You’re Thankful for Them
Because of COVID-19, Thanksgiving gatherings will look a little different this year. Rather than an in-person get-together with those at-risk, opt for sending a thoughtful card or letter instead. There’s nothing better than receiving a hand-written letter or card from a loved one!
Let those you love know why you’re grateful to have them in your life. You can include some of your memories and thank each person for making an impact on your life.
Serve Someone
It’s right there in the name — Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. We feel that one of the best ways to give thanks for your blessings is to serve others. There are endless ways you can do this, but we recommend choosing something that’s meaningful to you.
Whether that’s making donations to shelters or assisted living homes, writing cards for the military, delivering meals to your neighbors, or giving back in another way you feel will make an impact, serving others during this season is so important!
Encounter Church holds many local events around the Denver community that can help you get involved and give back. Reach out to us to learn more about our events going on this month.
Fill a Family Thanksgiving Box
As part of your preparation for Thanksgiving, create a Thanksgiving box with your family. Have each member of the family write at least one thing they’re thankful for on a slip of paper from now until Thanksgiving Day.
You can then open it while you’re eating or after you finish and take turns reading each other’s slips of paper. Have fun with it — decorate the box however you please and use it as a cute Thanksgiving decoration piece!
Make Someone Else’s Favorite Dish
There’s nothing better than showing up to Thanksgiving and seeing your favorite dish on the table. So, what better way to give thanks this year than to make someone else’s favorite dish?
You can either make it a surprise, or you can get the whole family to join in. You could even turn it into a game by drawing names from a hat to determine who will make whose favorite dish — like Secret Santa, but for Thanksgiving dishes!
Take Some Quiet Time to Reflect
The holiday season can be busy and chaotic, especially this year. Despite the craziness, we recommend taking some quiet time on your own to reflect on all that you have to be grateful for. In years like these, it can be easy to lose sight of all the great things within our lives, so some silent reflection may give you the chance to better realize these things.
Try keeping a journal over the next couple of weeks and jotting down at least five things you’re grateful for every day. These can be related to relationships, work, pets, health, or anything you feel is important. All that matters is that you make note of it and work to understand your blessings!
If you feel compelled, you can even join a Thanksgiving Day sermon or prayer to start the day off on the right foot!
Create a Gratitude Tree
Need a centerpiece for your table this year? What better way to tie gratitude into this holiday than with a gratitude tree? You can choose to create the tree in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, or have people fill out what they’re thankful for when they show up for the big feast.
We recommend cutting slips of colored paper into the shape of leaves so you can make it look like a real tree! Have each person make at least one or two leaves of gratitude and hang it anywhere on the tree.
Why Gratitude?
This year, while you carve the turkey, don’t forget to also carve out some time to talk about what you’re grateful for. Not only does showing your gratitude help those around you understand why you value your relationship with them, but it can actually positively affect your health! Studies have shown that gratitude can actually promote stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, make you more alert, and so much more.
Give Thanks With Encounter Church
Encounter Church offers many opportunities to show your gratitude through giving back. To learn more about our events this season, visit our website or reach out to our non-denominational church in Denver today!
While enjoying your delicious dinner this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to give thanks to those that mean the most. Keep in mind, no matter how crazy life gets, there’s always plenty to be grateful for.