Have you seen the meme about “Merry Thanksgivoween”? It blends Halloween and Christmas—complete with a pilgrim snowman and a jack-o-lantern wearing a pilgrim hat and beard. The message is clear: thankfulness is getting lost as the holidays merge. My answer? Just say NO!
Years ago, my husband pointed out that Thanksgiving was quickly becoming little more than a big meal and a football game. More recently, it has turned into just another stop on the road to Christmas shopping, swallowed up by Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Sadly, many companies have required their employees to work on Thanksgiving evening. This has stolen that time from their employees and their families, just to get a jump start on the biggest retail weekend of the year! During 2020, many major retailers began dailing-back and not making employees work on Thanksgiving night. This is good news.
But still—have you noticed how Thanksgiving seems to be fading away between Halloween and Christmas? We did. And we wanted more for our family and homeschool.
My husband and I desired something more for our family and our homeschool for November. We wanted Thanksgiving to have its due. Thanksgiving was instituted as a national day of fasting, prayer, giving God thanks for our bounteous blessings. Even in lean years and times of hardship, we always have reasons to be grateful. Yes, even in 2020 and now in 2025!
We have been through much trial and tribulation in our own lives, as you have, dear reader. God tells us in His Word:
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you."
I Thessalonians 5:18.
With that in mind, my oldest daughter, Julia, and I set out to create a family devotional to help us celebrate Thanksgiving every day of November. There are plenty of poems expressing a humorous part of Thanksgiving and about turkeys that got away. However, inspired by the Christ-Centered Christmas devotional we had used for decades, we wanted one designed for cultivating gratitude throughout November. We wanted to do as the Pilgrims had done and help our families look past the vicissitudes and difficulties of life and really focus on the blessings we receive, both great and small. That is how the Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional was born (in 2015).
The Pilgrims who came on the Mayflower had lost so much that first year. Of the one hundred and two Mayflower passengers, forty-five had died that first winter. Yet, they still gathered together and offered up thanks to God.
Can we, who have been so blessed, even in our difficulties, do no less?
We reached into stories and traditions of the past, because they reflected more godly gratitude.
Thanksgiving has always held a special place in my own family. My father was born on Thanksgiving Day—the last Thursday in November 1923. (It wasn’t officially changed to the fourth Thursday until President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s proclamation during the Great Depression.)
That year, my father’s extended family in Kentucky began the day hunting for game to prepare dinner. It was a bittersweet day. Just the year before, two of my grandfather’s brothers had died in an epidemic in Mississippi. They were deeply missed. Yet, that Thanksgiving ended with joy. After the men returned from the hunt and the meal was prepared, my grandmother went into labor, and my father was born.
The Bible passages, poems, hymns, and stories in this devotional reach back even further and are reminders of faith and gratitude that span generations.
Would you like your family to see Thanksgiving as more than a feast? Do you want them to cherish gratitude, notice blessings, and offer thanks to God, the giver of every good gift? Would you like them to live out “Thanksliving”?
That’s why I invite you to begin a new tradition with your family: celebrating Thanksgiving all month long through A Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional..
Each day includes a simple “Act of Thanksliving,” designed to help us not only give thanks but also live thanks.
We also included selections from the Pilgrims, the Mayflower Compact, and historic Presidential proclamations—from George Washington’s very first, to landmark proclamations after wars, national calamities, centennial celebrations, and even President John F. Kennedy’s final proclamation, signed just weeks before his assassination in 1963.
One thing became abundantly clear as we read through these proclamations. We, as Americans have been through many trials, but we had many blessings, too. Americans have much to thank and be thankful for to our God. He has preserved this nation since its Founding in 1776.
What is A Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional?
A Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional is a 30-day, 150+ page anthology that includes:
* Bible Verses - Old Testament and New Testament Verses
* Gratitude Quotes
* Acts of Thanksliving (activity)
* Gratitude Poems or Hymns
* The Mayflower Compact - 11 November 1620. Yes, over 400 years ago!
* The First Thanksgiving Proclamation- 20 June 1676
* U.S. Presidential Proclamations or Classic Thanksgiving Stories
Some families will enjoy all 30 entries each year, while others may choose selections that fit their family’s rhythm. You might begin your day with verses and quotes, end your evening with the activity, or even enjoy the story as a bedtime read-aloud. There’s no one “right” way—it’s flexible to fit your family.
Are you ready to bring Thanksgiving back to its rightful place?
Start a new tradition this year—celebrate Thanksgiving all month long!
Check out a sample Here.
A Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional
Are you tired of Thanksgiving being lost between Halloween and Christmas? Do you want to help your family see that Thanksgiving is more than a feast and a day to watch sporting events?
Start a new tradition! Celebrate Thanksgiving all month long!
A Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional is a 30 Day Anthology
150+ page daily anthology of Bible verses, quotes, poems, hymns, Presidential Proclamations, Classic Thanksgiving Stories, and daily Thanks-living activities.
View a sample HERE
Created in 2015.
Printable e-format. Reg. 19.95
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Discount Code: THANKS2025
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What are people saying?
" I just bought Donna's A Classic American Thanksgiving Devotional... Even though everyone in my home is older, we like to have cool dinner conversations, learn stuff, and celebrate. I know this is going to be PERFECT for that! I downloaded it, all 158 pages because I wanted it in my hands, at the dinner table.
Each day has a gratitude Bible verse, a Thanksgiving quote, a simple Thanksliving activity, a Thanksgiving poem or classic Thanksgiving song, and a Thanksgiving Proclamation or story. How cool is that!!! I put it on the credenza in my daughter's home so they can use it too. During November, I will slip up there right before dinner and borrow it back. (I live in a four-generation home) I am very excited about this and we're all looking forward to having a daily dose of gratitude, Thanksgiving, good conversation, and family activity.
Thank you so much, Donna!!!"
~ Mary Ann J.
If you like this, you will LOVE our Christmas Devotional.
Power Members get 30% OFF on all downloadable products during their active membersip. Check out the Power Membership HERE.