Thanksgiving 2025 – A Spiritual Reflection

 

As we gather for Thanksgiving 2025, we pause to remember that gratitude is not only a response to what we receive—it is a spiritual practice that shapes who we become. In the United Methodist tradition, thanksgiving is rooted in our belief that God’s grace is present, active, and abundant, even in seasons of uncertainty. We give thanks not because life is perfect, but because God’s presence is steadfast.

This year, United Women in Faith invite us to look at gratitude through the lens of courage, compassion, and community. Gratitude is courageous because it refuses to let fear or scarcity define us. It is compassionate because it opens our eyes to the needs around us, reminding us that blessings are meant to be shared. And it is communal because we recognize that God often works through the hands, hearts, and prayers of one another.

As we reflect on the months behind us—marked by change, challenge, renewal, and hope—we are reminded of God’s quiet work in the everyday: the kindness of strangers, the resilience of communities, the bold witness of women who lead with faith, and the call to pursue justice with joy.

This Thanksgiving, may we cultivate a gratitude that leads to action:

• Gratitude that notices the overlooked.

• Gratitude that advocates for the vulnerable.

• Gratitude that builds bridges where the world builds walls.

• Gratitude that sees all people as beloved children of God.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let us give thanks not only with our words, but with our lives—living generously, loving boldly, and serving faithfully. And may the peace of Christ, which surpasses understanding, guide our hearts into deeper gratitude today and in the days to come.