A Thanksgiving Activity: A Thankful Pumpkin

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Wonderful, glorious Thanksgiving.  A time to indulge in all those delicious family recipes reserved specifically for one day a year.  The turkey.  The stuffing.  The cranberry sauce. The pumpkin pie.  Bring.  It.  On.  It’s also a time to gather with loved ones and reflect on that which we are thankful. 

In honor of Thanksgiving I wanted to share an easy family activity you may have seen making the rounds on Facebook and Pinterest. It’s called a “Thankful Pumpkin” and here’s how it works: get a pumpkin to place on your dinner table or someplace where it will be seen each day. Using a marker, have each family member write something they are thankful for on the pumpkin. Continue for as many days as you’d like—preferably until the pumpkin is full!  This is a great activity for extended family and friends to do with you on Thanksgiving Day as well! Quick and easy, but this activity can have a lasting impact.  It allows us to pause and reflect on how truly blessed we are. 

When life is going well and joy is abundant it’s easy to give thanks, but even in the midst of struggle and uncertainty, God is still good, He still loves us, and He is still in control.  He is on our side. He is blessing us more than we deserve or could ever repay. This activity is a reminder to not just be thankful for the creation, but to be thankful to the Creator. And let us remember that being thankful is not reserved for just one day a year.  Every day is a blessing.  Every day is an opportunity to praise God with our words and actions.

If your family makes a thankful pumpkin, please share photos on Hope Church’s social media accounts. Let’s share with others how thankful we are for our great God!

     “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” Psalm 9:1.