{From the Front Porch // Keeping Jesus at the Center of Thanksgiving}

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times of the year... a season filled with family, food, and all the cozy feelings that make my heart so full. But if I’m being honest, it can also be a season that gets loud, busy, and a little overwhelming if I’m not careful. Between traveling, cooking, cleaning, and trying to make everything “just right,” it’s easy for the peace and gratitude I want to feel to get buried under the to-do list.

This year, I’ve been praying about how to slow down... how to truly keep Jesus at the center of Thanksgiving. Because when I remember who this season is really about, the Giver of every good thing, I find that peace begins to replace pressure, and gratitude flows a whole lot easier.

Here are a few things I’m reminding myself of this Thanksgiving season...

Start with the Source of Gratitude

Before the kitchen fills with the smell of turkey and the noise of football games, I want to start my day in quiet with Him. Even if it’s just ten minutes on the porch with my Bible and a cup of coffee, I want to begin Thanksgiving by thanking the One who gave it all.

It’s so easy to wake up and immediately jump into the busyness, but when I take time to thank God first, everything else falls into perspective. Gratitude grows best in hearts that stay close to Him.

Protect Your Peace

Not every family gathering is peaceful... and sometimes even the sweetest traditions can bring a little tension. This year, I’m praying for gentle words, soft hearts, and the grace to let little things go.

Peace isn’t the absence of noise, it’s the presence of Jesus. It’s choosing to stay rooted in Him even when things get chaotic. When I start to feel my peace slipping, I whisper a quick prayer: “Lord, help me see this moment through Your eyes.” That little prayer changes everything.

Choose People Over Perfection

If you’re anything like me, you want everything to feel just right...the table, the food, the cozy little touches that make it feel like home. But the truth is, the people around that table are what matter most. The dishes don’t have to match perfectly, the pie doesn’t have to look Pinterest-worthy, and the house doesn’t have to be spotless.

What matters is that hearts are full, laughter fills the room, and love is felt in every corner. Jesus never asked for perfection... just presence. 

Make Gratitude the Focus

When the day gets loud and full (because it always does), I want to be intentional about creating moments that bring it back to gratitude. Maybe that’s sharing a favorite verse before dinner, going around the table to say what we’re thankful for, or pausing to pray for someone who isn’t with us this year.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or scripted... just real and heartfelt. Gratitude refocuses our hearts on the Giver instead of the gifts.

Remember Why We Gather

At the end of the day, Thanksgiving isn’t about the perfect meal or the prettiest table, it’s about celebrating the goodness of God. It’s about remembering His faithfulness through every season and thanking Him for the blessings that fill our lives... the big, the small, and everything in between.

When we invite Jesus to the table, not just as a guest, but as the center of it all, we’ll find the kind of peace and joy that no circumstance can shake.

So this year, I’ll be praying that His presence fills each home we visit. That our laughter honors Him. That our gratitude glorifies Him. And that when the day winds down and the leftovers are packed away, we’ll all feel a little more thankful for the One who makes it all possible.

Because when Jesus is at the center... peace and gratitude will always follow.

🧡 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1