Thanksgiving Graces by Mark Kimball Moulton

A family is preparing for their Thanksgiving meal when Dad arrives home with a friend. More family members and unexpected guests begin to fill the house. Every time someone new comes, they simply put another chair at the table. When the little boy becomes concerned that they won’t have enough for everyone, his Grandmother reminds him of the story when Jesus provides bread and fish for everyone. She tells him that there always seems to be enough when you love and care. Everyone gathers around the table for dinner and says a prayer of Thanksgiving. The boy realizes that Thanksgiving is about thanking God for all the gifts he gives us and for sharing what we have with everyone.

This book shows a picturesque Thanksgiving day in rhyme. Being a Midwesterner, we are sometimes guilty of being exclusive in our holiday gatherings. We don’t always think to include those outside our immediate family. I appreciate the author’s attempt to be inclusive of anyone who needs somewhere to be on Thanksgiving. While I respect his desire to show diversity when he refers to the aunt and her “adopted son”, I cringed a little. I truly value normalizing adoption, but I feel it could have been worded in a better way. I’m sure the mother would never refer to her child as her “adopted son”, just her son.

I also love the fact that the grandma says the name Jesus and refers to scripture. However, it almost sounds like she is alluding that they will have enough food by divine intervention. She doesn’t quite go that far, again, it could be worded just a bit better.

Overall though, I think this is an excellent and pleasing read for November.

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1. Who is normally at your Thanksgiving meal?
2. What can you thank God for today?
3. What gifts that God has given you can you share with others?