I was weaving in and out of aunts and uncles to sneak a peek at the pumpkin pie when I saw it.
The golden turkey and grandpa with a knife.
My nine year-old tummy rumbled.
And while the next 20 minutes felt like forever as grandma and grandpa invited everyone to go around the table and share one thing we’re grateful for, I couldn’t help but think about how good that turkey’s going to taste.
My grandparents have since passed away.
And as I grew older, I realized Thanksgiving is less about the food and more about appreciating the people and blessings in our lives.
But how do we teach this to children, especially in a world full of distractions, materialism, and dare I say ‘distracting golden turkeys’?
One way to teach them the true meaning of Thanksgiving is by including Bible verses into the holiday celebrations.
They can be as simple as the printable you can grab for free in this post, your favorite scripture on the wall, or sharing a spiritual message at the dinner table.
But more importantly, these verses can serve as reminders for children to be grateful for all that they have, and to show kindness and love towards others.
25 Beautiful Thanksgiving Bible Verses For Kids + Free Coloring Pages
Here are some Thanksgiving Bible verses that are perfect for kids:
1 Chronicles 16:34 – “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 107:21 – “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 69:30 – “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 100:4 – “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
2 Corinthians 9:11 – “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”
Colossians 3:15-17 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
1 Timothy 4:4-5 – “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
Ephesians 5:20 – “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 136:1 – “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Daniel 6:10 – “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Psalm 7:17 – “I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.”
Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Psalm 35:18 – “I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.”
Psalm 147:7 – “Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:”
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 – “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 57:9 – “I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.”
Psalm 9:1 – “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.”
Daniel 2:23 – “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.”
Psalm 30:4 – “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”
Colossians 1:12 – “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”
Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Psalm 107:1 – “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.”
Psalm 122:4 – “Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.”
Long Story Short?
While you plan the perfect pecan pie and dust off Mrs. Bailey’s 2 hour dressing recipe card, take a moment to give thanks and praise to the Lord for all of His blessings.
As we celebrate with our loved ones, let us also remember to sing praises to God and share His goodness with those around us.
Let’s make this Thanksgiving not just about the food, but also about giving thanks to the One who provides for us and gives us victory over sin and death.
And if you’re looking for some extra activities to do during the holiday season, be sure to grab your personal copy of our free coloring book:
So go ahead, grab the coloring book, the extra slice of pie, and give thanks to the Lord for His endless love and grace upon us.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Micah Klug is a wife, homeschooling mother to five children, and author. She teaches time-tested solutions to help parents remember what matters most in life, including strengthening their home, faith, and family relationships. To learn how a child who grew up in an authoritarian home is now creating an environment of peace and joy in her own home visit this page. If you want to contact Micah, send her an email here or email [email protected].
