Starting a New Family Tradition
Thanksgiving is a chance for families to gather together, to feast and to enjoy being with one another. But the day can also be a meaningful time to reflect on our blessings and remember how God has been faithful in our lives.
Many families have special traditions they use to show gratitude to God and each other. In my family, Thanksgiving Day begins early in the day with food preparations and beautiful music flowing through our home along with the sound of laughter as well as hustle and bustle with fabulous smells bringing back lots of memories of past Thanksgiving Days.
Today I wanted to focus on a few different Family Traditions that I found fun and interesting and decided to share them with you today.
The Tree of Thanks
Using brown construction paper, cut out a trunk and branches of a tree and tape it to the wall. Then make leaves using red, yellow, and orange construction paper. Hand out the leaves to everyone who comes to Thanksgiving Dinner – siblings, spouses and their kids – asking them to write something for which they are thankful on each leaf. (You are allowed to fill in more than one leaf). Children are usually the most enthusiastic, while adults may be reluctant at first, but once they start reading each other’s leaves, they will participate and you will be surprised to see some leaves with detailed, heartfelt lists.
The Tablecloth of Memories
Once you have finished your meal bring out a package of fabric pens. Ask everyone present (family and guests) to write something on the tablecloth that they were thankful for. Each one takes turns writing short notes on the cloth … notes of love for family, our country, and our God are arranged in an intricate puzzle across the light yellow cloth. Children’s traced handprints are tucked in next to earnest messages of gratitude, even Great Grandma’s shaky handwriting holds a special place in the center of the mosaic. This tablecloth will become precious to your family and every November you will be honored to put out the Tablecloth of Memories – while the children search to find their handprints, thrilled to see how much they have grown!
When all the guests have gone home and dishes put away, take a few moments for a tradition of your own by reading all the special messages left behind. Not all the same family members or guests are present every year, but the words on the cloth (of Thanksgiving Days gone by) will remind ou to say a prayer of thanks for each and everyone who has shared a meal at your table.
Bread of Blessings
On small pieces of paper, type either positive affirmations or Bible Verses and tuck them into the dinner rolls. At Thanksgiving dinner, family members read their message out loud when they open their roll. Now your meals will be filled with promises of God's goodness until the last roll disappears from the basket.
Hope this gave you some ideas of how you can start your own tradition! Feel free to share some traditions of your own!
Diana Dahlberg, Broker/Owner/Realtor
1 MONTH REALTY - Serving SE Wisconsin since 1994
5703 Springbrook Road - Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
(262) 657-1171 office (262) 308-3563 cell (262) 721-0206 iFax
Buy.Sell@1Month.com http://www.BuyKenoshaHomes.com
Comments(12)