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That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving a<\/em>nd declare all Your wonders. Psalms 26:7<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! But when we were newlyweds, the idea of creating our own family holiday traditions became quickly entangled in the process of pleasing two sides of the family, friends, and church ministry. Cozy, idyllic visions of holiday traditions gave way to riding the waves of hectic holiday expectations.<\/p>\n As time passed, those holiday expectations flexed and changed. Some were better managed, some were let go, and some were added. Life requires a lot of flexibility, and the holidays highlight that need. While traditions create a beautiful sense of unity and stability, many get altered as family members pass on and new members join the family. To me, that\u2019s the beauty of Thanksgiving! The foundational holiday tradition for Thanksgiving isn\u2019t tied up in the food we eat, the place we spend it, or even the people we are with that year. The one central tradition necessary to enjoy Thanksgiving is just that: giving thanks!<\/p>\n The concept of gratitude is so powerful! It can unite us despite great distances, perspectives, and situations.<\/p>\n Photo credit: \u00a9Getty Images\/MKucova<\/span><\/p>\n Enter His gates with thanksgiving a<\/em>nd His courts with praise.<\/em><\/p>\n Give thanks to Him, bless His name.\u00a0<\/em>For the LORD is good;\u00a0<\/em>His lovingkindness is everlasting<\/em><\/p>\n And His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n In Scripture, we see that gratitude and worship are inextricably intertwined. Thanksgiving is the gate or doorway to God\u2019s presence. When we offer our thanksgiving to God, it connects us with His presence.<\/p>\n As Paul reminds us, it also centers us in His will for our lives:\u00a0In everything give thanks; for this is God\u2019s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Interestingly, the Greek word for peace is eirini, which means unity. Through Scripture, maintaining peace and having a grateful heart are intertwined.<\/p>\n Be anxious for nothing<\/a>, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Thankfulness uniquely invites God\u2019s presence into our experience and allows us into His presence.<\/p>\n And it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, \u201cFor he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,\u201d the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud. 2 Chronicles 5:13<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n When the Temple was finished and dedicated before the assembly of Israel, it was community worship that invited God\u2019s presence in a powerful, unforgettable way to dwell there in the Temple.<\/p>\n Fast forward to a more recent time in history, during the Civil War, when it seemed our country was more divided than ever, a woman named Sarah Hale had an idea that unified the country in a small but significant way. She had pestered presidents for decades but finally caught the attention of President Lincoln with her idea to nationalize a day of gratitude to the Almighty. She hoped that this collective pause for prayer and giving thanks would unite our country as well as our families. It certainly seems we could use an extra dose of that kind of unity in our country.<\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a9iStock\/Getty Images Plus\/Drazen Zigic<\/span><\/p>\n Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 34:3<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.\u00a0<\/em> Colossians 3:15<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Counting our blessings together as a family is one of the simplest yet most profound family bonding activities. It refreshes our marriage. It anchors our hearts to God\u2019s goodness and provision as a family, experiencing Him together.<\/p>\n Our Thanksgiving traditions have changed over the years. When we were first married, we used to visit three homes on that day. Since we bought a home in the mountains, Thanksgiving, rather often, has been a snowed-in day for us, without access to the main road. Some years, it\u2019s a warm, Southern California kind of day, ending around a bonfire while we recount our blessings. Other years, the Santa Anas incite the power company to turn off the electricity – which certainly changes the menu! There were years we had a turkey and years we had soup. One year, it was the day a family member died tragically. And each year since, we have grieved his loss.<\/p>\n But the one tradition we haven\u2019t flexed on is sitting together for an extended time, counting our blessings together, with prayer and shared gratitude. It\u2019s the holiday tradition we can always afford and can\u2019t afford to miss! It\u2019s a tradition that strengthens the family when so many other holiday traditions strain family peace and unity.<\/p>\nThanksgiving Unites Our Hearts with the Lord\u2019s Presence<\/h2>\n
Thanksgiving Unites Our Hearts with Our Community<\/h2>\n
Thanksgiving Unites Our Hearts with Our Families<\/h2>\n