One of the greatest challenges of observing Thanksgiving in 2020 will be the diminished feeling of celebration. In other years many of us would find ourselves gathering with family and friends to eat (probably too much), laugh, and offer thanks.

Just because Thanksgiving will look different this year does not mean that we should surrender this important tradition. Thanksgiving and gratitude is something that we need now more than ever.

Gratitude addresses the problems we are facing

Hundreds of studies about gratitude have documented its physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual benefits. Here are some of the blessings of being thankful.

• Reduces anxiety and depression
• Decreases fear
• Boosts physical health
• Enriches relationships
• Improves sleep
• Stimulates forgiveness and empathy
• Provides the ability to move on after highly stressful situations
• Increases selflessness and compassion
• Brings happiness and makes life more satisfying
• Lessens feelings of envy, frustration, and aggression
• Turns our attention from self to God and to others

Could Thanksgiving change the world?

You are not alone in suffering the effects of social isolation due to this pandemic, the loss of valued traditions, and the stress of political division. The people in the places where you live, work, learn, and play are struggling with the same issues as you.

Doesn’t it sound like thankfulness and gratitude address the myriad of issues our world is facing? If the people of God were to lead out in calling others to thanksgiving, how might they change the world?

The Missional Question

The season of Thanksgiving provides the opportunity to bless our neighbors by helping them develop the practice of thankfulness and therefore reap the benefits. The missional question becomes more than, “How can I show gratitude to others?”

If living grateful lives brings the blessings mentioned earlier, we should be moved to ask, “How can I help others harvest the blessings of thankfulness?”

As you practice being thankful yourself and reap its benefits, look beyond yourself because gratitude is a life skill that everyone needs to practice.

• Start with counting your blessings and offer praise and thankfulness to God.
• Stop grumbling.
• Lead the way.
• Tell others what being thankful has done for you.
• Look for ways to help your neighbor express gratitude.
• Be patient.

Missional Challenge

The missional challenge is for you to move beyond merely giving verbal thanks to promoting gratitude with a Neighborhood Thankful Tree and bless your neighbors.

A Neighborhood Thankful Tree offers the gift of thankfulness to those who live around you. It is a visual way to practice gratitude as people write down items they are thankful for and add them to the tree.

Establish a Neighborhood Thankful Tree

Put up a gratitude tree in your yard or outside your apartment door and invite others to stop and practice thanksgiving. The process will be briefly outlined below, but you may download the free guide, Promote Gratitude with a Neighborhood Thankful Tree.

Step 1: Choose a “Tree.”

You may have a tree in your yard with low branches that can be easily reached. If you do not, you are going to have to be creative and fabricate one (see the guide for additional ideas).

Step 2: Gather the “leaves.”

“Leaves” are simply tags or paper strips large enough to write notes of thanksgiving, which can be attached to your tree. They can be purchased or made.

Step 3: Prepare signage with instructions and provide writing materials.

You will want to make sure that your neighbors understand the process and have what they need to express thanksgiving.

Step 4: Set the tree up in your yard or outside your apartment door.

Make sure that your Neighborhood Thankful Tree is accessible.

Step 5: Invite your neighbors.

Get your neighborhood involved in thanksgiving and let them know how to participate.

Go door to door and invite your neighbors. Use a simple card of invitation and instruction and give them a tag or “leaf” to fill out and bring by later and add to the tree. Let them know that more tags or “leaves” will be available at the tree. A reproducible invitation is included in the guide.

Step 6: Celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a communal holiday. Choose a time that best fits your neighborhood and invite others to gather for a time of thanksgiving. 

Practice social distancing and safety guidelines. 

Keep it simple. When everyone is gathered, pause in a moment of silence and introspection to be thankful, allow participants to verbally share things for which they are thankful, then lead in a prayer of thanksgiving. 

You might even want to provide refreshments and enjoy the fellowship of neighbors.

When the undertaking is finished:

• There will be a visual, tangible representation of the blessings that abound in your neighborhood.
• The need for connection and community will be strengthened.
• Neighbors, friends, and family will reap the benefits of practicing thankfulness.

Will you take the missional challenge and be a catalyst in bringing your neighborhood together to give thanks? Download the free guide, Promote Gratitude with a Neighborhood Thankful Tree.

P.S. I would love to hear from you about your Neighborhood Thankful Tree in the comments below. Bookmark this post and come back in December and let your fellow travelers know about the blessings received. If you have pictures you would like to share, go to the Contact Page and email them.