Below are some suggestions for making Thanksgiving an opportunity for expressing our gratitude to the Lord in creative ways.
Write “I’m thankful for you” cards and give them out or e-mail them on Thanksgiving (or mail them beforehand).
Take a walk. Find a place to enjoy God’s gift of creation. Head out the door for a refreshing walk. Invite family, friends or others to share the experience too.
Take advantage of the Thanksgiving holidays to focus on what you’re grateful for and the things you appreciate about yourself and others. It is an ideal time to remember and to celebrate the many blessings in our lives.
The Thanksgiving holiday is an excellent time to rediscover the psalms of praise and thanksgiving. When you find a quiet moment, sit and relax with your bible. Think of a time when awe and gratitude overwhelmed you. Maybe it was a sunrise, or children playing in a park, an inspirational hymn at Mass, a family gathering, or a walk in the woods. Remember how you appreciated that special moment. Then, open your bible to one of the psalms of thanksgiving and recite it to yourself, like Psalm 118 for instance:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Listen to the words. Close your eyes. Let the psalm speak to you.
Other psalms of praise and thanksgiving you might consider include psalms 92, 95, 98, 100, 103, 104, 105, 107, 111, 117, 145, and 147.
Whatever psalm you choose for that quiet moment, thank God for that special time of awe as well as all the good things in your life, and praise God for his glorious deeds.
Let us pray . . .
Thank you, Lord
For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the beauty of the earth and its amazing colors; for crisp autumn mornings and sparkling winter nights; for mountains and forests, rivers and seashores.
Thank you, Lord
For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the water that cleanses, the clothes that bring warmth, the food that nourishes, and the home that gives comfort.
Thank you, Lord
For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for those who love us and care for us; for those who value us for who we are; for those we call family, friends, neighbors.
Thank you, Lord
For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the gift of Christ, your Son; for His life, His gospel, His cross, and His Church; for His Eucharistic meal and the promise to be with us always.
Thank you, Lord
For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; for the time you’ve allotted us, the life you’ve offered us, the opportunities you’ve afforded us, and the miracles you’ve worked for us.
Thank you, Lord
For all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in our life; and for your infinite love that meets our daily needs. May our love, too, be known for its abundance, its readiness to bless and heal, to offer peace and promote justice, and to serve in Jesus’ name.
Amen.