The Thanksgiving Blessing Tree

 

Thanksgiving week is a natural invitation to pause, notice, and respond with gratitude. Here are some thoughtful ways to deepen gratitude to God and sharpen our recognition of blessings:

🌿 Ways to Increase Gratitude to God

• Prayer of Thanks: Begin and end the day with a short prayer naming specific blessings—health, family, opportunities, even challenges that helped you grow.

• Scripture Reflection: Read passages that emphasize gratitude (e.g., Psalm 100, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Alma 34:38). Let them shape your perspective.

• Gratitude Journal to God: Write daily entries addressed to Him, acknowledging both ordinary and extraordinary gifts.

• Acts of Service: Express gratitude by serving others—sharing food, visiting someone lonely, or offering encouragement. Service becomes a living prayer of thanks.

• Worship Through Beauty: Notice creation—sunrise, autumn leaves, laughter—and consciously thank God for the artistry woven into life.

🌟 How to Recognize Blessings in Our Lives

• Shift Perspective: Instead of asking “What am I missing?” ask “What have I been given?” This reframes even small things as gifts.

• Celebrate the Ordinary: A warm meal, a safe home, a conversation with a friend—these are blessings often overlooked.

• Remember Past Deliverance: Reflect on times God carried you through difficulty. Gratitude grows when we recall His faithfulness.

• See Blessings in Trials: Challenges often bring hidden blessings—patience, resilience, compassion. Naming these helps us see God’s hand even in hardship.

• Community Reflection: Share with family or friends what you’re grateful for. Hearing others’ blessings expands your awareness of your own.

✨ A Thanksgiving Practice

Here’s a simple ritual you could try this week:

1. Gather stones or slips of paper.

2. Each day, write one blessing and place it in a jar or basket.

3. On Thanksgiving Day, read them aloud as a prayer of gratitude.

It becomes a tangible reminder of God’s abundance.

🧠 Teaching Moments

• Young children: Ask, “What made you smile today?” or “What do you love that God gave you?”

• Teens: Invite deeper reflection: “What blessing have you overlooked?” or “How has God helped you grow?”

• Adults: Encourage naming blessings in disguise—hardships that led to growth or healing.

• To guide reflection, you can write a prompt on the back of each leaf:

  • “What did God give me today?”

  • “What challenge became a blessing?”

  • “Who am I thankful for?”

  • “What beauty did I notice?”