Thanksgiving Always

For the Sunday before or after Thanksgiving

From “Barefoot in the Snow”  

Scripture Reference: 1 Thess. 5:16-18  “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

Preparation: Bring a calendar that clearly shows the month names and a fat, washable, red marker (in case a child misses the calendar page and marks clothing instead).

When is Thanksgiving? Can anybody tell me? (Let children respond.) Thanksgiving is (or was) this Thursday? Are you sure? I brought a calendar with me and I’ve circled a day that I think is a thanksgiving day. You tell me if you think I’ve got it right. (Open the calendar to a month, such as March, and show one date circled in red.) Is Thanksgiving in March? No? Well, maybe I got it wrong. I’ll show you another day that I think is a thanksgiving day. (Open the calendar to another month, like July, and show another date circled in red.) Is Thanksgiving in July? You don’t think so? I think it could be in July.

Okay then, during what month do you think Thanksgiving happens? (Children may answer.) November? Let’s turn to November and see what my calendar says. (Show the month of November with each date circled in red.) Well it looks like my calendar finally got it right. I have every single day in November circled! Even though we usually celebrate Thanksgiving on just one day a year—on the fourth Thursday of November—we really should have thanksgiving every day of the year, and I’ll tell you why.

The Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18 rsv). The Bible also tells us to sing with thanksgiving, to pray with thanksgiving, and even when you are asking God for something, to make those requests with thanksgiving. We really should be celebrating Thanksgiving every day.

I don’t mean, of course, that we should have a turkey with stuffing and pies and all the relatives over every day. That might be a little difficult. But every day we have so many things to be thankful for! Even on bad days, when nothing seems to be going right, you can always find something to be thankful for.

So really, the only month in my calendar that has every thanksgiving day circled, is the month of November. I’d like for a few of you to help me circle more thanksgiving days on my calendar. Tell me something you’re thankful for and you can circle another date. (Let several children share thoughts and circle dates.) Thanks for helping me work on my thanksgiving calendar.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to make every day a thanksgiving day. We thank you for all your daily blessings.

Key Words: Gratitude, Thankful, Prayer