Who Else Is Thinking This?

Who's Really Thinking About This?

Thanksgiving hits different these days. Families are fractured, people are struggling, the country feels heavy, and a lot of the faces that used to light up the room are no longer at the table. The ones who kept the traditions going, the ones we couldn’t wait to hug every year… some are gone, some are distant, and the excitement just isn’t the same anymore.

Now we’ve got a new generation that doesn’t really cook like our elders did, phones sitting on the table where real conversations used to be, and social media sometimes feels louder than family. Research even shows that phones at the dinner table can weaken connection and make people enjoy mealtime less, which only adds to the emotional distance. If we’re honest, it’s sad to think that if nothing changes, Thanksgiving could slowly become just virtual meetups, old photos, and a highlight reel of what used to be. But even in all of that, there is still faith. There is still the Almighty God. And as long as there is God, there is hope.

Maybe the change doesn’t start with everybody. Maybe it just starts with one:

- Invite one person into the kitchen and teach them one recipe that means something to your family.

- Make one new “no phones at the table” rule so people can actually look each other in the eye.

- Ask one elder to tell one story, and truly listen, because their memories are treasures we can’t get back once they’re gone.

- Check on one relative who’s drifting away and remind them they’re still loved and still wanted at the table.

- Be the one who says, “Let’s pray together before we eat,” and invite God back into the center of the gathering.

We may not be able to fix every family or heal every hurt, but we can reach one to teach one. Small, consistent acts; one table, one meal, one intentional conversation at a time can rebuild real connection and remind us what love looks and feels like in real life, not just online.

Traditions don’t have to die; they can be revived, reshaped, and passed on in new ways that still honor the old foundation.

As long as there’s breath in our bodies and God in our hearts, there’s still time to turn things around.

If you’re reading this, maybe you are the one in your family called to keep the light on, to be the bridge, the peacemaker, the memory keeper, and the one who refuses to let gratitude, love, and togetherness fade away.💖🙏🏽💫

With love and gratitude,

Denise Townsend  💛🕯 🕊