Family Faith and Fun Fridays: The Perfect Pre-Thanksgiving Activity
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
-Hebrews 4:12
Welcome to Family Faith and Fun Fridays! As the week winds down and I anticipate more family time over the weekend, I often ask God for one good idea that will enable me to bring the Word to life and bring our family together. Usually, the activity overflows out of something the Lord has been teaching me through His Word during the week. I’d like to invite you to join me and my family in the adventure. Sometimes I’ll post things we’ve tried; other times I’ll post an idea in the works. If you’ve got thoughts to add or suggestions on how to adapt or improve the activity, please don’t hesitate to comment. Enjoy!
Free to Worship
We were re-enacting the tale of the first Thanksgiving with our Little People when Joshua’s colorful Indian asked my bright-eyed Pilgrim man a fair question. “Why did you bring your family to my land?” said the Indian in a deep voice that bore an uncanny resemblance to my four-year-old son’s tiger growl. I wiggled my synthetic colonist a bit and replied in my best man tone, “Because I wanted to be able to worship God freely.”
At that point, Joshua set his little Indian down and stepped out of character. “Mommy, how come those pilgwims couldn’t worship God in their own country? Didn’t they have soldiers to keep them free?”
I looked at my green-eyed boy and smiled, “No, they didn’t have soldiers to keep them free, buddy. They had to sail far from home to find their freedom.”
Josh stared at our pudgy plastic pilgrims and sighed. “I’m really, really, really GLAD we have soldiers to keep us free.”I nodded in agreement and asked, “Do you think our soldiers know that we’re grateful?”
Josh cocked his brown-haired-head in thought. “I dunno,” he responded, “But we could TELL them we are!”
And so we embarked on a fitting Thanksgiving activity this morning. With paint and paper, glitter and bling, we designed thank you cards for the brave men and women who continue to protect our right to worship God without fear in America. 
We’ll send one of the cards to a soldier who happens to be the uncle of Josh’s favorite friend. The others, we’ll send through the organization called a million thanks. (I noticed that we’ve missed the deadline for Thanksgiving mail, but I think that gratitude is in season all year round!) Perhaps this weekend you and your family could take a moment to send a simple thank-you to the ones who preserve our right to worship God. I can’t think of a better activity to set the stage for our Thanksgiving holiday celebration.
This is a fantastic idea…thankful turkey letters to our freedom fighters. LOVE IT!