Thanksgiving Tree Tradition

– Mike & Beth

It’s been a tradition with our kids for several years now. We call it our Thanksgiving tree, the concept is simple. Every night at the dinner table (or breakfast table), the kids take one of the cut-out leaves and write one thing that they are thankful for on it and then hang it on the tree.

During Thanksgiving, we take all the leaves off and read them one by one as a lead-in to prayer. What we’ve found is that this helps set the tone for the true meaning of Thanksgiving throughout the weeks leading up to it. (As we all know Thanksgiving Day can be a bit crazy and chaotic). It also can be a good lead in to prayer if families feel awkward about praying with extended family and friends who might not know Jesus during Thanksgiving.

Our family has written down everything from God’s grace to Scooby Doo to Jesus to warm socks to friends from church to ketchup to Forgiveness.

Last year we re-used the tree idea and cut-out snowflakes and wrote names of people we were praying for on it leading up to Christmas.

The setup is relatively easy. Collect a few sticks, put em in a vase, cut out some leaves and hole punch one side of ’em.