An easy, fun, and beautiful way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to create a ‘Thankful Tree,’ with your family. You just need a few supplies that you probably already have around your house: a vase, tree branches, twigs, or sticks, twine, paper leaves. This year I found some burlap leaves at Hobby Lobby that complemented the rustic look I was going for, so I added festive gold slips of paper behind each leaf to write out our thanks. Each day in November after dinner, we discuss something we are thankful for that day, or in general and then write it on the leaf.
Thinking about the things in life that we are grateful for, big or small, grand or meek, really opens our minds and hearts to joy. When we realize all that we have to be thankful for we start to see the world differently. When we see the world differently, with this attitude, we then act on it. Before you know it, you’re smiling at strangers, listening intently to a friend’s problem, eagerly helping a neighbor rake their yard. Yes, a simple act of recognition of all of the blessings we have can begin to stir something inside of us that can cause a ripple effect and like a tidal wave of love, can flood our world.
One of those leaves has your name on it. I am thankful for you, friend, for taking time to read these words. You are a blessing more than you know. Happy Thanksgiving!
