Skip to main content

Thanksgiving—Let Us Give Thanks!

Thanksgiving: Let Us Give Thanks!

We've all learned about the "First Thanksgiving" in school between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans at Plymouth. A meal was shared between neighbors, offering thanks to God for the bountiful harvest. Today, as a national holiday, Thanksgiving draws upon its religious origins as a day to celebrate with friends and family, giving thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed and the sacrifices that have been made throughout the year to make the holiday special. It is a day on our nation's calendar that is not secular by any means, but rather filled with remembering to offer thanks and praise to the Lord for his bounty and blessings.

This year, my family began the "Turkey on the Table Activity." All throughout the month of November, my family has been adding a feather to our centerpiece turkey with what we are each thankful for written upon it. We were given this activity as a gift, and the purchase of it goes to the program, "Feeding America." Not only has this activity helped my children see all the things they can be thankful for, but it has also helped us talk about helping to feed the hungry—which is a Corporal Work of Mercy. 

Another activity you and your family can do to show your thankfulness/gratitude, is a modified "Turkey on the Table Activity." First, you can draw a turkey without feathers or a tree without leaves on a large piece of paper. You can then hang the piece of paper with your drawing on a door or wall. As a family, add paper feathers or paper leaves to you turkey or tree with what you are thankful for written upon them. Your family can then purchase food for Thanksgiving baskets, a local soup kitchen, or another charity to help feed the hungry. Helping your children see the value of feeding those in need will help them see the human dignity of all people; and helping them list what they are thankful for, is also a great opportunity to talk about what are truly the important things in life: Being thankful for the gift of life, the gift of freedom, the blessings of breathing fresh air and drinking clean water...There are so many things to be thankful for! What are you and your family thankful for?

As you and your family prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I leave you with this prayer: 

We Give You Thanks

To you, oh Lord, we offer thanks, a prayer of gratitude. 

Hearts filled with joy, with love,  

And thanks, for the blessings we know come from you.  

Never leave us, be at our sides, and celebrate with us. 

Keep our family close, within your heart, please fill us with your grace,  

So that we may share your blessings, Lord, with those within this time and place. 

Amen.

My you and your family have a truly blessed Thanksgiving!        

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Invite Your Parish Priest Over for Dinner:

Invite Your Parish Priest Over for Dinner: Four months after moving into our new house, my husband and I decided to invite our parish priest over for dinner and to bless our new home. We still had piles of unpacked boxes, our toddlers were bouncing off the walls with excitement, and my husband and I were a little nervous. Was our home clean enough? Would we be able to engage in good conversations with our guest? When the doorbell rang, our children raced to the door, and began bouncing around, welcoming Father inside. During dinner, we found that the conversations flowed easily. We shared stories about where we grew up, our families, and various other details as we got to know one another outside of church. We laughed as our daughter spilled the beans that my husband and I were expecting our third child, and when we shared our due date, our priest began enthusiastically sharing all sorts of common, as well as some crazy sounding, saint names for days on and near our due date.  Afte...
1 comment
Read more

Saint Hildegard von Bingen

Saint Hildegard von Bingen: Feast Day Sept. 17th Not only is Saint Hildegard a Doctor of the Church, but during her life she was a writer, scientist, and conveyor of the "spiritual importance of femininity" (Catholic News Agency).  During her life, she was not only a confident leader, but she also served as a beautiful witness of humility, allowing others to observe that confidence, leadership, and humility can all exist and work together. This article , from the Catholic News Agency, contains not only biographical information on Saint Hildegard, but also a wonderful discussion of how modern women can relate and connect with this smart and accomplished female saint who supported the truths of the Church.  Since Saint Hildegard is from Germany, and the majority of my family's ancestry derives from Germany, we decided to make "Nussecken" —dessert mini-nut bars—to celebrate today. The modifications that we changed to this recipe, were using raspberry jam instead of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: Feast Day July 14th  “I am not my own: I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love.”  Saint Kateri Tekakwitha When I was a child, my siblings and our neighborhood friends would often dress up like Native Americans and play outside. We would explore the cedar tree- filled vacant lot, with its babbling creek, next door to our house, and would roam our two acre yard, building bed-sheet tents hanging from our front trees, and basking in the wonders of summertime. When I reflect back on these fond and treasured childhood memories, I think about how often I feel connected to God when I’m outside experiencing the beauty of His creation. When I gaze at the beauty that fills the sky with the rising and setting sun, feel a breeze upon my skin, or watch a thunderstorm roll in as I sit on my front porch, I feel a sense of delight, wonder, and peace. Nature has a special way of connecting the soul with its creator. Today, as we celebrate Saint Kateri Teka...
Post a Comment
Read more