If you have not already been asked the question, you almost certainly will be at some point
soon: “So, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?” People may genuinely want to know your
plans for Thanksgiving Day and the surrounding days, or they might just not know what else to
say at that point of the conversation!
Often, the expectation is for the person being addressed to detail what specific plans are being
made with regard to travel, food and people. This past Wednesday, as a group of Koinonia
student leaders met for our weekly lunch discussion and devotion time, the topic of
Thanksgiving plans came up. One student mentioned how the plan was to have 30 or 40 family
members at her house, while another student indicated that her Thanksgiving Day would be a
smaller gathering with just the student and their parents. Another individual shared that he
had 5 “Thanksgivings” to go to – and seemed exhausted thinking about it! Regardless of your
plans, it is good for us to set aside time to give thanks for our many blessings.
One individual, with whom I used to coach, often declared that Thanksgiving was easily his
favorite holiday, because it involved all the people he loved, gathering in community and
thankfulness, without the trappings of gift-giving or other details.
At the heart of this holiday lies the question, “To WHOM are we giving thanks?” Thoughts of
thankfulness must have a direct object, a receiver. It’s not “Mother Nature” or “good fortune”
or even “my place of employment” who provides all my good gifts. God Almighty, Creator of
the Universe, has granted every good gift for this life, and has provided the ultimate gift in the
form of Jesus, sacrificed for us that we may live forever with Him.
Whatever your plans are (or were) for this holiday, be assured that Thanksgiving is not intended
to be one day in November, but is to be a way of life and a pattern of living. We, as Christians,
participate in ThanksLiving – where each day involves us using the gifts the Lord has given us to
praise His name.
So, “What are you DOING for Thanksgiving?” Just living out our thanks! May God give us the
strength to live out our thankfulness on this Thanksgiving Day, 2025 – and every other day – for
as long as He allows us time on this earth.