Let’s be honest. Thanksgiving prayers and sharing can become a bit routine over the years. Sometimes, it may seem the thanks to God are standing in the way of all of that good food you are about to enjoy. You may also have people at your table whom you haven’t seen in months or not know well at all. Why not switch things up a bit and make the mealtime conversation a prayer of sorts to God and have fun reconnecting in the process?
You can start with the normal prayer for the meal. Instead of ending the prayer, have the person leading it pray that the entire mealtime conversation is a continuation of this prayer as you thank Him for the many gifts you may have even forgotten to thank Him for during the year.
Then ask diners to share their thankful answers to the following questions (or add your own):
- What was the meal (not this one) for which you are most grateful God gave you this year? It can be because of the food, the company, the atmosphere or a million other reasons.
- Who is the most interesting person you are grateful God allowed you to meet this year?
- What is one new place you are grateful God gave you an opportunity to visit this year? You don’t have to have even left your town. It might be a new pretty spot you found or a new coffee shop you enjoy.
- What is one favorite place you are grateful God allowed you to continue to enjoy this year?
- What is the most unique experience you are grateful God gave you this year?
- What is the most interesting thing you are thankful God gave you an opportunity to learn this year?
- What one thing this year did God give you that gave you pure joy? This does not have to be a thing. It could also be an experience or something else from God.
- What is one blessing God gave you this year that you didn’t really expect you would receive?
There are probably lots of other questions you could ask, but you get the idea. Having people make the dinner conversation about gratitude to God will make those moments of gratitude a little less rote and a little more heartfelt. Not to mention, it may just keep all those pesky argument causing conversations from even starting!