Reclaiming Gratitude

Thanksgiving traditions offer an annual attitude re-set for Leigh Ann Roman. What Thanksgiving traditions does your family treasure? 

One of my favorite aspects of Thanksgiving is the simplicity of the holiday. We gather with family and friends to give thanks for our many blessings. As a Catholic, I especially appreciate that the holiday is founded on gratitude to God. After all, the source and summit of our faith is the Eucharist, which is Greek for "thanksgiving."  

Giving Thanks Daily 

During November, I have a few simple practices that make Thanksgiving more meaningful. These traditions can easily be applied to families with young children or empty nesters and can be started at any time in November. The most important practice is to be intentional about thinking of something every day for which to be grateful. Sometimes I post those to Facebook.

When the children were small, we tried to talk about our daily gratitude in November. Now that they are grown, I am starting a new tradition. During this month, I am writing down something for which I am thankful on a post-it note every day and placing it in a jar. On Thanksgiving Day, I will open those notes: a gift to myself to remember all the ways in which God has blessed me, my family, and the world. 

Another simple Thanksgiving tradition is to go to Mass on Thanksgiving Day. To me, that seems to be the most appropriate way to start a day dedicated to gratitude. In our Catholic tradition, the Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice of thanksgiving and communion. Receiving the Eucharist knits us more tightly to our Lord and to our brothers and sisters who make up the body of Christ in the Church. 

Feeding the Hungry 

As we consider our brothers and sisters, it is also important to remember those who do not have enough to eat. A bare cupboard must seem especially empty during a holiday that seems to be dedicated to food. For those who are able, Thanksgiving is definitely a holiday to contribute to the parish food pantry or Thanksgiving food basket. This year, as more families are struggling financially, I am also considering an additional donation to Catholic Charities in my diocese because it is a primary provider of emergency food in our area. 

Another great Thanksgiving tradition is to invite people to dinner who may not have an invitation elsewhere. People don’t just hunger for food; they hunger for companionship, especially during the holidays. I remember being a young newspaper reporter who couldn’t get enough days off to go home for the holidays. I was grateful to be invited to the homes of local friends to spend the day among their family.  

As I consider all of these Thanksgiving traditions, I am left with an obvious question: Why just limit these practices to November? Surely finding something specific to be grateful for daily would give me a more positive outlook on life. Going to Mass more often would offer great spiritual benefits. Donating to the food pantry and inviting lonely people to dinner are not necessarily seasonal activities. I could incorporate that into my everyday life, as well. 

The blessing of Thanksgiving is that it is an annual reminder to be a person of gratitude, and when I reclaim that gratitude, I move toward a better way of life. 

What Thanksgiving traditions inspire you?  

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Copyright 2025 Leigh Ann Roman
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