Putting The "Thanks" Back In Thanksgiving

Photo by ZedZap(Nick)

I've heard many people say this, and I must agree - Thanksgiving seems to be the forgotten holiday. Sure, we never forget to meet up with friends and family and enjoy a delicious meal. But many of us, myself included, seem to overlook Thanksgiving in favor of Christmas.

This year, I am focused on having a simple, stress-free holiday season, and I have decided to focus on Thanksgiving for what it is; a day to remember the many things which we are thankful for. Here are a few simple suggestions for putting the "thanks" back in Thanksgiving.

Teach Your Children. Our daughter is 3 years old now, and old enough to begin to understand meanings of holidays. You can never start too early! Crafting is a great way to teach children. There are plenty of sites offering great ideas on age-appropriate crafts focusing on thankfulness. Tomorrow, I am headed out to purchase some construction paper and twine; I am going to cut out leaves in different colors and talk with my daughter about what she is thankful for. We are going to write those things on the leaves and turn them into a garland to hang on our wall.

Remind Yourself. Starting tonight, grab a notebook and write down 5 things you are thankful for. Do this every night, and no matter how awful your day has been, you will end it on a positive note. You could also make one enormous list of everything you are thankful for, and post it on your fridge as a reminder. Get creative! On Thanksgiving morning, take a stack of post-it notes and go around the house with your family, posting your notes on the appropriate place. (For example, you could write 'I am thankful for having enough food to eat' on your fridge, or 'I am thankful for a warm house' on your thermostat.)

Share Your Blessings. Have you ever noticed talking about positive things with others can lift both your spirits? My church has an annual Thanksgiving celebration where everyone can stand up and talk about what they are thankful for, and it is always uplifting to see what God has been doing in their lives. I know it's also quite common to have everyone discuss what they are thankful for over the Thanksgiving table.

Do you have any special Thanksgiving traditions or ways to remember the meaning of the holiday?