While serving internationally, one thing I did not expect was the overwhelming admiration for Thanksgiving held by folks from outside the U.S. culture. “A whole holiday about being thankful? That’s amazing!” Language classes loved talking about this holiday as one of the few unique traditions to the U.S. and we’d often either spearhead or support an initiative to create a Thanksgiving experience for local friends.

Even though I can see the blessings in my life, I find myself struggling to feel thankful this year. Maybe it’s the toxic political climate. Maybe it’s remaining in an extended season stateside not by choice. Or maybe, as I work with Mennonite Central Committee’s Indigenous Neighbours programming, I’m extra sensitive to the colonizer-Native injustices we ignore every Thanksgiving.

Yet my friend Jon reminded me that thankfulness is not a uniquely U.S. concept and has deep layers that can be found throughout the scriptures. It’s a deeply-rooted spiritual practice even in the presence of scarcity, struggle or political division. Here are five ideas to hold onto when trying to be thankful this season.

1. Thanksgiving as sacrifice

Leviticus 7:12 describes a subset of ancient sacrifices called todah (thanksgiving, praise) offerings. It’s important to note that sacrificial offerings were just that — a sacrifice. You would give up something of value at a loss. Sacrifice and thankfulness are paired together as a reminder that, even in hard times, gratitude requires us to pause, give something of ourselves and thank God. Whether it’s time, resources or emotional energy, these sacrifices deepen our gratitude — especially when we feel too tired or busy to give.

2. Thanksgiving after a collective effort

The book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls after the Babylonian exile. The Israelites, finding themselves in a time of trial and opposition, embarked on a massive collective effort to breathe life back into a place they could once again call “home.” The act symbolized renewal and community amidst hardship.

Banding together in difficult times is vital for survival — whether that be physical, emotional or spiritual. And, as we persist and overcome through collective effort — whether rebuilding after disasters, advocating for justice or even strengthening communities — we have plenty of cause to give thanks. 

3. Thanksgiving in scarcity and challenge

Often we express thankfulness for what has been or what is, but we also see Jesus giving thanks for what is yet to come. On the occasions when Jesus was faced with feeding thousands with next to nothing, he “looks to heaven” and “gives thanks.” Before raising Lazarus from the dead, he prays, “Father, I thank you for having heard me.” And even at the Last Supper, knowing what awaits him, he breaks bread, gives thanks and leaves them with a message of hope. 

There’s a boldness in giving thanks in the presence of scarcity and challenge. Can we, like Jesus, find the boldness to give thanks even when the outcome seems uncertain?

4. Thanksgiving as a discipline

The apostle Paul’s ministry was fraught with challenges — imprisonment, shipwreck, persecution — yet he constantly urged the early Christians to give thanks in all circumstances. Like prayer, he models a discipline of gratitude as a practice independent of our situation. Establishing and following through on these rhythms makes expressing gratitude easier, even when it feels unnatural or uncomfortable. 

Our family practices this with what we call the “thank you prayer,” which we offer to our kid when he’s not sure what to pray before dinner: You thank God for the food on your plate, then for the people who prepared the food, then the people at the grocery store who sold the food, then the people who transported food, then the person who grew the food, etc. This practice helps us pause and see the interconnected web of people and processes we often take for granted. Cultivating this kind of gratitude as a discipline equips us to see blessings even when life feels overwhelming.

5. Thanksgiving as a form of resistance

When we acknowledge the uncomfortable truths surrounding the origins of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday — specifically the myth of cooperation between Native Americans and European colonizers — we are invited to hold space for both thankfulness and honest reflection. Confronting these false narratives equips us to resist and challenge modern ideologies rooted in colonialism and imperialism. 

Thankfulness is sometimes most profound and transformative when it’s a choice made in the face of discomfort, not just when things are going well. It becomes a countercultural act of resistance, a discipline and a way to foster resilience and hope even in challenging times.