10 Tips to Make Thanksgiving GREAT!
Make Thanksgiving Day one to remember this year with fun and activities for everyone! Here are a few tips:
1. Start the Day with Gratitude
Before the hustle begins, take a few quiet moments. Write or say out loud three things you are grateful for and ask the Lord for a Thanksgiving Day as He has planned it.
2. Create a “Tree of Thanks”
Do something different. Cut branches or buy a small tabletop fir tree ( you can decorate it again for Christmas). Cut paper leaves and give three to everyone asking them to write the three things they were thankful for in 2025. Hang them on the tree. It becomes a family centerpiece for reflection and gratitude.
3. Pass on the Tradition
Make preparing the meal a joint experience. Last year my daughters and daughter-in-law insisted on making Thanksgiving dinner themselves. It was wonderful! I was so blessed to pass on the tradition and watch them enjoy working together! Cooking together made the day all the more meaningful for all of us! (I brought a charcutier board as my contribution for “before meal” munching).
4. Add a Meaningful Place Card
Who writes handwritten place cards anymore? But, why not? Write a place card for each person with a simple note of appreciate on the back of the card…a keepsake each can hold onto as they cherish the memory of the day.
5. Share Blessing or Breakthrough Stories
Ask each person to share one story from the past year that represents a moment of joy, growth, or answered prayer. Shift the focus from the food to God’s Presence and faithfulness throughout the year…something to truly be thankful for every day!
6. Shut Down the Phones: Choose to Be Fully Present
Make it a “no phones at the table” meal or a “no phones” day. Replace screen time with real conversation, laughter, and connection. There is no greater gift than your undistracted and attentive presence.
7. Share Your Table
Take a plate of food to a neighbor, invite someone to join you who might be alone, or volunteer to serve a meal in your community. Sharing kindness only multiplies your joy.
8. Add Music and Meaning
Create a playlist of uplifting songs or hymns. We actually play the music available on YouTube which fills our home with a comforting and peaceful atmosphere.
9. Take a Thanksgiving Walk
After dinner, invite the family to walk your neighborhood or a nearby park. Breathe the crisp air, share your blessings, and enjoy God’s creation together before diving into dessert.
10. End the Day with Prayers of Thanks
Before anyone leaves for the day, gather together, take hands, and pray thanking God for all He has done and plans to do as you step into 2026. Thank the Lord for this particular meal and the time spent together, the memories, and the moments to be cherished for years to come. There is nothing more meaningful than time spent in God’s Presence with family and friends. This is something worth remembering as you reflect on years past and anticipate the years to come!
May you have a rich and joy-filled Thanksgiving Day from our home to yours!
The Watermans
