Five kernels of corn lined the construction paper place settings. The preschool class celebrated the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving. The boy next to my son put one kernel in his ear then took it out—voila! A magic trick—so it seemed. My son tried the same stunt,  but the kernel disappeared—into his ear canal! The teacher called. Since my daughter was covered in chickenpox, I called my husband who took him to the pediatrician who referred them to an ENT.

There are plenty of other (safer) ways to pause during the feasting and fellowship and give thanks to God Almighty. I solicited ideas from friends.

My family goes around the table and everyone mentions something they are thankful for. Not complicated but taking a focused moment to think about gratefulness makes a difference.
–Madison McCay

We gather family and friends around the piano and sing. When the kids were taking music lessons, they would play or sing a song. We usually sing some hymns then welcome the Christmas season with a carol.
– Sandy Hamilton

We usually go around and tell what we are thankful for, then as a group, we discuss what has been a specific blessing from the Lord throughout the year, to help each other recognize His glory!  We also try to serve others as a way to show gratefulness to the Lord.
–Anita Simpson

We write notes to people who have greatly influenced our lives. These may be to teachers, mentors, neighbors, or others who God has crossed our paths with through the years. Sharing words of gratitude and words of encouragement through a note helps us focus on how we have been blessed by others, then we share encouragement and gratitude to those seated at our Thanksgiving table.
–Rebecca Dorris

We’re starting a new tradition this year since the boys are older. We’ll gather some twigs from the yard, put them in a jar to create a tree and decorate it with all the things we’re thankful for by writing them on paper leaves and hanging them on the twigs. After Thanksgiving dinner (and before dessert!), we’ll read all the leaves on the tree out loud.
–Deanna Loveland

One of the ways our family has celebrated Thanksgiving each year is by reading the Proclamation of Thanksgiving as declared by President Lincoln. I love the section, “to these bounties which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even a heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.”
–Cynthia Mook

Before our Thanksgiving meal, we gather around in a circle and hold hands to pray. After our Thanksgiving meal, typically while we are eating dessert, we go around the table and tell what blessings we are thankful for from the year. Also, we take turns drawing out a Scripture from a small wicker pumpkin basket to read to the group. It is a basket that one of our sons made in his preschool years. Seeing this always makes me reflect on how my children have grown and how God provides and blesses greatly in the big and little things.
–Fran Hildabrand

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!