Taking Thanksgiving to the Next Level

When I was a child, I had asthma. Typically, it landed me in the hospital a couple of times each year. It’s been four decades, but I still remember those hospitalizations. Day after day of breathing treatments, blood draws from my wrist (big ouch), and sitting quietly in an oxygenated tent until my airway opened made the time crawl. But those hospitalizations weren’t all bad. The hospital staff was kind, and I loved getting visitors—especially from my teachers, who I considered to be Rock Stars. Each time, the high point of my stay was when someone from school dropped off my makeup work and, along with it, a packet of handwritten notes and Get Well cards written in crayons from my classmates. There was nothing prolific written on those handmade cards. Just the basic messages you’d receive from an elementary school kid; “Get Well Soon, Sorry You’re Sick, and Come Back Soon.” My best friend in the third grade wrote my favorite message, “I miss you at lunch. You’re a good listener.” I sat alone in that oxygenated tent and repeatedly read and reread those cards.

This week we’ll gather with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a time to contemplate why we’re grateful and thank God for all the ways He has blessed us. Giving thanks to God is called for, and it’s appropriate because every good thing we possess comes from His hand. King David got it right when he said: “I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you” (Psa. 16:2).

But this year, what if we took Thanksgiving to the next level? Along with giving thanks to God, why not reach out to some people and tell them why you’re grateful for them? You’ve got colleagues, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, bosses, teachers, and former coaches who would love to hear from you. Calls and texts are great—handwritten notes are even better. The message doesn’t have to be long or prolific—but the more specific, the better. My best friend’s note stood out because she was specific: “I miss you at lunch. You’re a good listener.” It’s been forty years, and I still remember those words penned by an eight-year-old.

Giving thanks to God at Thanksgiving (and every day of the year) is part of what it means to be a thriving Christian. But the Bible also instructs us to be kind and encourage one another (1 Thess. 5:11, Eph. 4:32). So, why not get creative and celebrate Thanksgiving week by giving away loads of kindness and encouragement? People are desperate for both—and you’ll be glad you did.

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