THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS – PART 3

Thanksgiving is less than a week away now! It has been SO fun to write about my favorite Thanksgiving traditions and I hope that you have found one, two or even three new traditions for your family to start this year!

My last favorite family Thanksgiving Tradition is a very special one. My mom started this tradition for my family when her first grandchild was born and has continued to carry the tradition on for the past ten years. I call it, "The Thanksgiving Gift."

Every Thanksgiving my mom gives each family a special gift...a book with an envelope. The book is normally about gratitude, service or love. This year, my parents live in Hawaii so the book we received from them is called “Aloha Is.” It is such a sweet book and gives all the definitions of what Aloha means. Love, obeying, kindness, and service. Laila has LOVED it.

What is so special about this tradition is the envelope that comes along with the book. Inside the envelope there is cash for each grandchild in the family. It is for them to use that money to help someone in need in the month of December.

This is Laila’s first Thanksgiving, so when we received her book and envelope I was SO excited!! I can’t wait to use the money to help someone who needs to feel loved this Christmas season. We can have Laila put it in the red can at the mall, we can use it to make treats for a neighbor, we can use it to buy gifts for someone who is less fortunate … we can do whatever we would like! As Laila gets older, I am so excited to be able to teach her how to serve and to show love to others. I am so excited to see what she chooses to do with her Thanksgiving Gift and to see how she decides to help someone in need.

I love this tradition and I hope you start it with your families. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money… it is the thought that counts. It can be $1… or $100. Whatever you can afford.

I know as we teach our children to serve and help those in need at a young age, we are helping them become better sons, daughters, friends... better future wives, mothers, husbands and fathers. I hope we can all spread the Thanksgiving Gift tradition. It really is the gift that keeps on giving!