My favorite season is fall! I love the autumn breeze, hot cider and coffee, pumpkin spice, cozy sweaters, and the general feeling of thankfulness and happiness that comes when the leaves start to fall.
There’s just something about this time of year that makes me want to slow down a little, spend more time with my family, and enjoy all the little things that make life so special.
And let’s not forget the beautiful changing leaves, the smell of something delicious baking in the oven, and those chilly mornings that practically beg you to grab a warm cup of coffee and curl up under a blanket.
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Seriously, what’s not to love about fall?
But you know what’s even better?
The holidays are right around the corner!
And one of my favorite holidays is… drumroll, please…
Thanksgiving!
I love everything about Thanksgiving. The food, the family time, the traditions, and especially the opportunity to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for.
Of course, there’s also the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and the inevitable food coma afterward. Because let’s be real, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without eating entirely too much food!
But underneath all the delicious food and holiday excitement, Thanksgiving is really about something much more meaningful.
Gratitude.
It’s about taking a moment to appreciate the people we love, the memories we’re making, and the blessings we sometimes overlook in the middle of our busy lives.
And as a mom, I think that’s something worth remembering.
Life gets hectic. There are lunches to pack, dishes to wash, appointments to remember, and about a million other things competing for our attention.
Sometimes we get so caught up in everything we have to do that we forget to appreciate everything we already have.
That’s one of the reasons I love Thanksgiving so much.
It’s a reminder that even when life isn’t perfect, there is usually something worth being thankful for.
And nothing puts you in a more thankful mood than a good Thanksgiving quote!
So whether you’re looking for something inspirational, a little encouragement, or just something to make you smile, here are 20 of my favorite Thanksgiving quotes to put you in a falltastic mood!
Funny Thanksgiving Quotes to Make You Smile
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun, too!
Between cooking a huge meal, gathering with family, and trying to keep everyone happy, there’s usually plenty to laugh about.
And honestly, sometimes laughter is exactly what we need.
1.
“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.”
— Oscar Wilde
2.
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”
— Erma Bombeck
If you’ve ever spent an entire day cooking Thanksgiving dinner only to watch everyone finish eating in what feels like five minutes, you probably understand that second quote a little too well!
But those funny, chaotic family moments often turn into the memories we treasure most.
Thanksgiving Quotes About Gratitude and Thankfulness
One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is the reminder to appreciate what we have instead of constantly focusing on what we don’t.
And that isn’t always easy.
Sometimes life is messy, stressful, and downright exhausting.
But practicing gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything is wonderful all the time. It simply means recognizing that good things can exist even in difficult seasons.
These quotes are beautiful reminders of just how powerful thankfulness can be.
3.
“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”
— W. T. Purkiser
4.
“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”
— W. Clement Stone
5.
“Thankfulness creates gratitude which generates contentment that causes peace.”
— Todd Stocker
6.
“Giving thanks fills you with light and joy so you can shine like the bright star you truly are.”
— Amy Leigh Mercree
7.
“To be thankful for one thing is infinitely more powerful than to be bitter about a hundred others.”
— Craig D. Lounsbrough
8.
“It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.”
— Germany Kent
9.
“I have more to thank for than complain about.”
— Bangambiki Habyarimana
10.
“The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you can live fully in the present.”
— Dana Arcuri
I especially love the reminder about being present.
How often do we spend our days thinking about what comes next?
The next holiday. The next vacation. Or the next milestone. The next thing on our never-ending to-do list.
Meanwhile, there are so many beautiful little moments happening right in front of us.
Sometimes gratitude is as simple as noticing them.
Inspirational Thanksgiving Quotes for the Heart
Thanksgiving is also a wonderful time to reflect on the things that really matter.
For me, those things usually aren’t things at all.
They’re people.
And they’re memories.
They’re the little moments that make an ordinary day feel special.
And sometimes, when life has been particularly challenging, they’re the reminders that there is still so much goodness in the world.
11.
“If you have life and good health, you have the greatest blessings.”
— Lailah Gifty Akita
12.
“Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.”
— Amy Leigh Mercree
13.
“No matter the packaging or size… everything we have is a gift, and gifts are blessings, even when disguised.”
— Nyki Mack
14.
“Some days are better than others, but every day can be the best day of your life by giving thanks.”
— Richie Norton
15.
“Gracious words refresh, restore, and revive the soul.”
— Lailah Gifty Akita
16.
“Family gathers
to share good noise and good food.
Gratitude abounds.”
— Richelle E. Goodrich
That last one makes me smile because isn’t that exactly what Thanksgiving feels like?
A house full of people, everyone talking at once, kids running around, food everywhere, and a whole lot of noise.
It might not be peaceful in the quiet, relaxing sense of the word, but there’s something pretty wonderful about a home filled with love and laughter.
And those are the kinds of memories I hope my children carry with them as they grow older.
Faith-Filled Thanksgiving Quotes
For many families, Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on faith and the blessings God has provided.
These quotes are reminders to look beyond the everyday busyness of life and appreciate the gifts we’ve been given.
17.
“The Christian who walks with the Lord and keeps constant communion with Him will see many reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving all day long.”
— Warren Wiersbe
18.
“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”
— Henry Ward Beecher
19.
“Thanksgiving is a spiritual exercise, necessary to the building of a healthy soul. It takes us out of our stuffiness into the fresh breeze and sunlight of God’s will.”
— Elisabeth Elliot
20.
“No matter how low you think you are in life, there is a situation worse than yours, so thank God for everything.”
— Dele Andersen
One thing I think is important to remember is that being thankful doesn’t mean we aren’t allowed to have hard days.
We can be grateful for our lives and still feel overwhelmed sometimes.
We can love our families more than anything and still need a little quiet time.
And we can appreciate what we have while still hoping and working toward something better.
Gratitude isn’t about ignoring the difficult parts of life. It’s about making room to appreciate the good parts, too.
Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude This Thanksgiving
One of the things I love about Thanksgiving is that it gives us an opportunity to teach our kids about gratitude in a way that’s meaningful and fun.
And it doesn’t have to involve anything complicated or expensive!
Here are a few simple ways to make thankfulness part of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions:
- Start a gratitude jar. Have everyone write down something they’re thankful for and place it in a jar. Read them together on Thanksgiving.
- Go around the dinner table. Before eating, let each family member share one thing they’re grateful for this year.
- Make a thankful tree. Cut leaves out of construction paper and have your kids write something they’re thankful for on each one.
- Send a thoughtful message. Encourage your children to write a little note or draw a picture for someone special.
- Practice everyday gratitude. Spend a few minutes before bedtime talking about the best part of everyone’s day.
I especially love the idea of making gratitude a family tradition.
Because while Thanksgiving only comes around once a year, thankfulness is something we can practice all year long.
And I think that’s one of the most important lessons we can teach our kids.
A Little Thanksgiving Reminder
As much as I love Thanksgiving, I also know how easy it is to get caught up in trying to make everything perfect.
The perfect dinner.
The perfect decorations.
Or the perfect family pictures.
The perfect holiday memories.
But here’s something I’ve learned over the years.
The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
The turkey might be a little dry. Someone might spill their drink. The kids might argue over who gets the biggest piece of pie.
And you know what?
That’s okay.
Years from now, our kids probably won’t remember whether the table decorations matched or whether every dish turned out exactly as planned.
But they might remember the laughter around the dinner table.
They might remember helping in the kitchen, sneaking an extra dessert, or curling up on the couch with family after a big meal.
They’ll remember how it felt to be together.
And isn’t that what Thanksgiving is really about?
Final Thoughts on Thanksgiving and Gratitude
As the leaves continue to fall and the holiday season gets closer, I hope we can all find a little time to slow down and appreciate the things that matter most.
Not just the big, exciting things, either.
The little things.
A warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning.
A hug from one of your kids.
A home filled with laughter.
A good meal shared with people you love.
And even those ordinary, chaotic days that don’t feel particularly special in the moment.
Because sometimes those are the days that turn into our favorite memories.
I hope these Thanksgiving quotes have made you smile, inspired you, or reminded you of something wonderful in your own life.
And wherever you are in life right now, whether you’re celebrating a wonderful year or simply thankful you’ve made it through a difficult one, I hope this season brings you a little extra peace, happiness, and gratitude.
From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
And here’s to making this holiday season a little more falltastic!
Now I’d love to hear from you! What’s one thing you’re especially thankful for this year? Share it in the comments below!
