What to do on Thanksgiving

What can we do for God this Thanksgiving?  The holidays are a very special time for many families each year. However there are a number of families, kids or parents who find thanksgiving a difficult time.  For them seeing others gather together and have a big feast is disheartening. 

It could be for any of several reasons. Perhaps a loved one they once enjoyed the holiday with has passed away or maybe they were just never able able to participate in a nice family holiday meal.  Whatever the reason we need to be aware of those around us. Take time to invite a friend or someone you see who has no place to go or seems saddened by the holiday to your own special holiday events. 

Making someone a part of your family even if it is just for a weekend or a single meal can be a great step in the right direction for God.  

Other things to do for God on or around Thanksgiving may include one or more of the following.

• A very popular thing to do is volunteer at a shelter.  This is a great idea. I know the shelters love to have extra helpers. At times like Thanksgiving and Christmas the shelters are flooded with volunteers.  Maybe this is the only time you can get off work and volunteer so do it for God but what God really wants is your continuous service all year long.  Make volunteering at a shelter a regular weekly or monthly event. 
• If you are expecting to have a big Thanksgiving dinner at home or at grandmas house. Be a part of it and participate in cooking, or better yet cleaning up.  After a big meal or event there is always a lot of cleanup needed.  It's great to enjoy the turkey dinner but if you run off and leave all the cleanup work for mom or grandma to do you're not getting everything you can out of the gathering. Being a willing participant in cleanup for any occasion is the kind of person God wants you to be.
• Take some leftovers or deliver some meals to a shut-in or visit with someone who is confined to a nursing home.  The family time we all enjoy is not available to those who  can't get out of their home or nursing home.  A visit is most welcomed by the elderly or sick who are not able to get away from their current surroundings. Spending time together can be rewarding for you and the person you are visiting.
• If you enjoy the outdoors this may be the last time you can get out before the cold weather hits. On your long holiday weekend you might invite a friend or a neighbor to go out fishing or hunting for a few hours. Perhaps in colder areas you could take them skiing, ice skating or sledding.  Asking a neighbor to go with you might be just enough to make a new friend and open the door for future discussions about your relationship with Jesus.

Most of all we need to be sure and thank God for the life he has provided for us.  Whether life is easy or hard he still provides as we serve him and He is preparing a place for us in eternity for which we can be eternally Thankful. 

^{John 14:3} "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."