Thanksgiving Then and Now: A Reflection on Family, Faith, and Togetherness
When I think of Thanksgiving, my mind drifts back to cold, crisp mornings at my grandparents’ house. The drive there was always filled with joyful anticipation. I knew exactly what waited behind that warm and cozy doorway.
My grandmother always had a special drink ready—a simple mixture of pineapple and orange juice, but somehow it tasted perfect every single year. The pumpkin pies, made with flaky lard crusts, sat cooling near the wood stove, which filled the entire home with a soft, smoky scent that belonged only to that season.
Those early Thanksgivings were marked by serenity and togetherness. I knew who would be at the feast, and as a child, I looked forward to slipping away into imagination with cousins and friends. Life felt wonderfully uncomplicated.
Looking back now, it seems those times were untouched by the political tension, cultural conflicts, and social anxieties that seem to saturate our world today. Back then, our focus was simply family, fun, and the rare treat of slowing down.
This year’s Thanksgiving, though, will remind me of something meaningful.
Around our table will sit a wide mix of people: different political views, spiritual backgrounds, and life circumstances. Liberals and conservatives. Churchgoers and those uninterested in faith. Married, divorced, young adults still finding their way, and others who know the right direction but won’t quite follow it. We will be a full spectrum of perspectives and personalities.
And yet, we will spend peaceful hours together.
How? Because love, grace, and genuine care for one another will matter more than our differences.
No one will take it upon themselves to “fix” anyone else. No one will create conflict just to make a point. And if anything sensitive will need attention, it will be handled respectfully. But on Thanksgiving Day, our priority will simply be being present with each other.
To experience that same spirit of unity—first as a child, and now again in adulthood—will be a blessing I won’t take lightly.
So here will be my encouragement to you:
Don’t let cultural tension or the loud buzzwords of our day determine how you think or treat others. Allow God, love, and sincere care for people to shape your approach. You may find yourself, at just the right moment, able to help someone spiritually, politically, or relationally simply by offering grace and kindness.
Thanksgiving may continue to evolve over the years, but its heart will remain the same when we choose love over division.