Autumn’s Notes

Thanksgiving has a way of inviting us to pause — to notice what God has done, to recognize the blessings we may have rushed past, and to remember that gratitude is as much a heart posture as it is a prayer. As parents, though, we also know that gratitude doesn’t spring up automatically in our children’s hearts or even in our own. It’s something we practice, something we model, something we return to again and again.

Scripture reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It’s a beautiful verse, but if we’re honest — living it out on the messiest, busiest, most exhausting days of family life can feel like a tall order. Still, it’s in those very ordinary days that gratitude roots itself most deeply.

One way I keep this truth close is through music, especially hymns that have stood the test of time. Take “Now thank we all our God”:

“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”

These words are more than just beautiful poetry. They remind us to give thanks with every part of ourselves — our hearts, our hands, and our voices — acknowledging God’s work in our lives. They point us to the wondrous things God has done, celebrated not just by us but by all creation. They even speak to the generational nature of blessing, recognizing that God’s care starts from the very beginning of life and flows through the people around us. And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that God’s love isn’t only a gift from the past — it’s ongoing and present today.

For parents, this is a powerful picture. Music like this can help our children connect gratitude to everyday life — not just the “big” moments, but the ordinary, messy, delightful days that are full of God’s blessings if we pause to notice them. When we sing these words together, or reflect on them as a family, we practice seeing God’s hand in everything, cultivating a rhythm of gratitude that can take root in little hearts and in our own.

For us, one of the ways we’ve brought this kind of daily gratitude to life with our girls is through what we call “The Giving Tree”. Now, before you judge, yes — I am one of those people who puts up a Christmas tree right after Halloween. But hear me out: it’s just the tree with lights, no ornaments yet! That little glow in our living room gave us the perfect opportunity for a fun, hands-on way to practice thanksgiving throughout November.

I would cut out colorful paper leaves and set them in a basket by the tree. Each evening — sometimes after dinner, sometimes right before bedtime — the girls would write down one thing they were thankful to God for that day. Nothing fancy, just a simple note: “Thank You for my friend,” “Thank You for Daddy’s pancakes,” “Thank You for helping me be brave.” Then they’d hole-punch the leaf, thread a pipe cleaner through it, and hang it on the tree. By Thanksgiving, the tree was covered in reminders of God’s goodness — small moments that might have disappeared into the blur of the month if we hadn’t stopped to name them.

Parenting gives us chances to turn spiritual habits into hands-on moments. Seeing gratitude grow — literally, leaf by leaf — makes it alive and exciting for children. For us, it became a simple rhythm that reset our hearts.

So as we step into this Thanksgiving Day, maybe consider finding your own way to practice daily gratitude together — Something simple, fun, and a way to help your home slow down long enough to see the goodness that’s been there all along. Whether it’s a Giving Tree, a journal, a prayer at the dinner table, or a nightly moment of reflection with your kiddos before tucking them into bed, let this season be shaped by gratitude that lasts far beyond the holiday.

Because when we practice giving thanks daily, we don’t just raise grateful children — we become people who see God clearly in every season.

Until next week,

May your days be filled with small moments of thanks, your heart rest in God’s faithful love, and your home overflow with joyful praise. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

-A.