Thank You Jesus: Activities, Prayers, and Thanksgiving Shirts

The holiday season is here! And first up is Thanksgiving. While there is definitely some historical controversy around this holiday, one thing is for sure: it is the perfect time to pause and take in all you have to be grateful for. Of course, not everything in life goes as planned, and there are undoubtedly challenging situations (especially because we are still living in such unprecedented times). However, practicing gratitude is super important, and there is always something you can be grateful for: God’s love and the promise of eternal life… your salvation! Thank you Jesus! Read on for more ways to praise Jesus this Thanksgiving with activities, prayers, and t-shirts for the holiday.

Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities

Don’t let Thanksgiving pass by without spending time thinking about all you have to be grateful for this year. While you can do something as simple as saying one thing you’re grateful for, you can also do one of these fun Thanksgiving activities with your loved ones.

1. Decorate a Gratitude Pumpkin

This is not only a fun Thanksgiving gratitude activity, but it also works as a centerpiece for your dining table so that you can cross that off the list. Here’s how it works: get a big pumpkin, and have everyone write down a few things they are grateful for on the pumpkin using a Sharpie or marker. Then, place the pumpkin in the middle of the dining table where everyone can see all of the wonderful things listed!

2. Create a Thankful Handprint Tree

This is a craft that both children and adults can enjoy together. Here’s how it works: get some orange, yellow, and red cardstock paper, and trace everyone’s handprint. Then, cut out the hands, and have each person write one thing they are grateful for on each finger. Then, tap the hands to a tree cutout, so the hands act as the leaves! Hang the picture up so everyone can read what there is to be grateful for!

3. Write a Letter to Someone You’re Grateful For

Are you extra grateful for someone in your life? Give or send them a handwritten note to express gratitude and shower them with love and joy this holiday season. This Thanksgiving gratitude activity is especially nice if the person you’re thankful for doesn’t live close to you or can’t attend your Thanksgiving gathering.

4. Pass a Gratitude Basket

This Thanksgiving gratitude activity is also a fun guessing game, most suitable for older kids and adults. Here’s how it works: give everyone a sheet of paper and pen, and have them write down one thing they are grateful for and put it in the basket. Once everyone is ready, pass the basket around, and have people randomly read one of the papers. Then, everyone has to guess who wrote the note!

Thanksgiving Prayers

Saying a special Thanksgiving prayer is also a nice touch, whether it’s the prayer before your big feast or a prayer before putting the kids down at the end of the evening. Here are some wonderful Thanksgiving prayers to help you capture all of your gratitude and say, “Thank You Jesus!”

1. On Thanksgiving Day

“Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day, we bow our hearts to You and pray. We give You thanks for all You've done, especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son. For beauty in nature, Your glory we see, for joy and health, friends, and family. For daily provision, Your mercy and care, these are the blessings You graciously share. So today we offer this response of praise with a promise to follow You all of our days.” - Mary Fairchild

2. Prayer of Thanks

“O, heavenly Father: We thank thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank thee for health and remember the sick. We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless. We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.” - Abigail van Buren

3. The Lord's Prayer

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” - Matthew 6:9-13, KJV

4. Child's Thanksgiving Prayer

“Thank you God for all that grows,

Thank you for the sky's rainbows,

Thank you for the stars that shine,

Thank you for these friends of mine,

Thank you for the moon and sun,

Thank you God for all you've done!”

- Unknown

However you say, “Thank You Jesus!” be sure to say it this Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Prayer, Thanksgiving Prayers, Thanksgiving Activities, Thank You Jesus

Thanksgiving T-Shirts for the Whole Family

While Christmas is typically the holiday known for wearing matching outfits or pajamas with friends or family, we think it’s time to give Thanksgiving a chance. And we have the perfect Thanksgiving shirts to choose from! You can view all of our designs here and some of our best sellers below.