A BASKET OF GRATITUDE

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

make known His deeds among the peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Every year about this time we hear people saying how important it is to put “Christ back into Christmas,” many of them even referring to the “war on Christmas.” While often sensationalized it’s important that we don’t allow commercialization and consumerism to overshadow the meaning of Christmas. It’s essential that we gently remind the world about the birth of our Savior. But there’s something we must do first.

It’s time we put the “Thanks” back in Thanksgiving.

Since the Christmas shopping season seems to begin just after Labor Day, and builds to mid-November when it’s in full swing, many families consider Thanksgiving to be little more than a meal to kick off a whirlwind of late-night shopping and other Yuletide activities.

Let’s just stop for one minute.

If you lead your family into giving it the right focus, Thanksgiving can be one of the most meaningful holidays of the year. Remember it was God the Pilgrims were thanking when they originally gathered for a feast all those years ago. And it should be God we gather to thank now, on this Thanksgiving. In fact, it should be God we thank every day!

Yet, Thanksgiving provides the opportunity for family and friends to gather and speak aloud their gratitude. Here is something you can try with your family that may spark a tremendous tradition for generations. Before everyone digs into that enormous meal, have all your guests sit at the table with empty plates. On each person’s plate place five kernels of corn. Then, pass a simple basket around the table, stopping at each person. Everyone takes the basket, places one kernel of corn at a time inside and says one thing he or she is thankful for. The basket goes around the table five times. At the end, you’ll have a BASKET FULL OF GRATITUDE worthy of being THE CENTERPIECE of your holiday feast.

This simple time brings a beautiful and solemn reminder that our Lord has given us everything we have and the today, Thanksgiving, is for Him. Children, especially, love the tradition as it helps them learn how important it is to show thanks on this and every day of their lives.

The BASKET OF GRATITUDE reminds us that we often fail to appreciate what is right in front of us. Living a life full of thanksgiving brings immeasurable joy to your heart and soul. Remember, if you look to Jesus in all that you do, you will always find infinite blessings for which you can give thanks.

This Week’s Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank you. I may not say it enough, but I am so grateful for the faith, hope and love you have provided for me. You are my Lord and Savior. You have given me eternal life by dying for my sins. There is nothing I can ever say or do to thank you enough for that. But, I will try. Help me, strengthen me, guide me into using my life, my whole life, for giving thanks to you forever. Amen.