Remembering Who We’re Thanking This Thanksgiving

If there is one thing motherhood has taught me, it’s that gratitude isn’t something we drift into naturally—it’s something we choose, daily, in the middle of messes, meals, and moments that don’t always feel picture-perfect. As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to truly weave Christ into this season, especially for my two little ones who are just beginning to understand what “being thankful” really means.

And here’s the truth we sometimes glide past as we plan menus, clean the house, and prep for family gatherings: Thanksgiving isn’t just about being thankful. It’s about who we’re thanking.

In a culture that often turns gratitude into a vague, feel-good sentiment—thankful “to the universe,” thankful “in general,” thankful because it’s trendy—our children need clarity. We need clarity. Gratitude without an object becomes hollow. As Christians, our thanks has a name, a face, and a cross. We are thanking God—the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

Here are a few simple, meaningful ways I’ve been working to keep Christ at the center of Thanksgiving in our home:

1. Start with Scripture before you start the stuffing.

Before the kitchen whirlwind begins, we pause—yes, even with toddlers climbing chairs—to read a short Psalm. Psalm 100 is our go-to:“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.”Beginning the day with these words sets the tone: Thanksgiving isn’t about us being thankful people; it’s about a faithful God who deserves our thanks.

2. Make a “God Gave Us” gratitude list with the kids.

Not just “what are you thankful for?”—but “what did God give us this year?” It re-frames everything.Suddenly, the list sounds different:

• “God gave us a new baby cousin.”

• “God gave me courage at school.”

• “God gave Daddy a new job.”It becomes a practice of naming God’s faithfulness, not just our feelings.

3. Tell the real Thanksgiving story: God’s provision.

We talk a lot about pilgrims and Native Americans this time of year, but beneath the historical traditions lies a bigger truth: a community surviving by God’s mercy and giving thanks to Him for it.I remind my kids that people throughout history have stopped to acknowledge that they needed God—and He showed up.

4. Pray with thanks, not just before eating.

It’s easy to rush the blessing before the turkey gets cold.But this year, I’m trying something different: a prayer that names specific ways God has provided for our family, our church, our friends, and our year.It slows us down.It points us back up.

5. Model gratitude that lasts beyond the holiday.

Kids can tell the difference between seasonal gratitude and a grateful life.They learn to say “thank You” to God because they see us doing it when no one is watching—during unexpected blessings, answered prayers, and even in the hard moments when God carries us through.

Christ Is the Center of Our Thanks

At the end of the day, Thanksgiving isn’t just about being grateful for blessings—it’s about recognizing and honoring the Blesser. As a mom, my deepest hope is that my children grow up knowing why we give thanks and who is worthy of it. Not a vague higher power. Not an abstract feeling. Not the holiday itself.

We’re thanking the God who made us, saved us, sustains us, and loves us more than we can imagine.

And that truth, more than any recipe, tradition, or photo-worthy moment, is what will shape their hearts long after the leftovers are gone.