Cokesbury Kids Blog

Located in my house are numerous wooden trinkets with sayings on them. Give Thanks. Be Kind and kindness will find you back. Live Simply, Love Generously and Learn Constantly. Family is the Tree of Life and so forth. There are numerous ones! These trinkets are used as part of my seasonal décor! Even though these items add pops of colors and a sense of fun, I shouldn’t have to be reminded to give thanks or to be kind. As a Christ follower I should wake up each morning giving a shout out to God for the opportunity to celebrate another day! A shout out of praise to God! A shout out for a thankful heart! A shout out for all the blessings in my basket! ‘Cause those blessings in my basket outnumber all my burdens!

Read aloud Psalm 95: 1- 2.

“Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!

Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!

Let’s come before him with thanks!

Let’s shout songs of joy to him!”

Is it 2021 yet? Yes, 2020 has been a difficult year for many reasons. Pandemic. Loss of jobs. Loss of purpose. Wildfires. Tropical storms. Racial tension. Virtual school learning. Loss of social interaction. Spotty church attendance. Shall I go on?

Repeat this verse again.

Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!

Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!

Let’s come before him with thanks!

Let’s shout songs of joy to him!

Look back at these lines of this verse. How will you sing out loud to the Lord? Think of ways you will come before God with thanks. Name them. Describe how you will thank God. How will you raise a joyful shout to the Lord? What songs of joy come to mind?

This November finds many of us in a different place than last November. Our Thanksgiving tables might even look different. Pause and read those verses once more.

During the next few days, be mindful of this verse.  Find ways to act out these verses.

Let’s raise a joyful shout!

• To better help you see all your blessings, create a colorful paper chain. Cut colorful construction paper into one-inch strips. Write out a blessing on each one then attach them with tape or a staple. Invite your family and friends to add their blessings to this paper chain.

• Instead of purchasing lots of gifts for others at Christmas, my mother would bake cakes as gifts at Thanksgiving. It was her way of saying thank you to people who had helped our family all year long. She was raising a joyful shout of thanksgiving to God for others. Think of ways you and your family can raise a joyful shout for others. Children can help create a meal for other family members and so forth. Help children create place cards for your Thanksgiving table.

• Decorate cards together. Most ages can participate. Recycle old cards. Set out washable markers, colorful papers, glue and stickers. Encourage family members to be creative as cards as made. Just imagine the smiles on the faces of your loved ones as they open these cards.

• Listen up ministers of children! Make time to send Thanksgiving cards/messages to leaders in your ministry. Communicate to each person just how much her/her ministry is appreciated. Send handwritten cards or e-cards. Call your leaders or send a friendly email to them. Remember, you can’t do this ministry alone! And your leaders will love receiving an encouraging word from you.

Give a shout out for all those leaders, friends and family members who have held out the Christ light for you as you traveled along your journey. Tell them thank you. Make time each day to give multiple shout outs to God for all your blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!