HaleyHere are 9 tips to help you thrive hosting Thanksgiving, while letting your hospitable heart shine as you welcome family around your table.
For years, my little family celebrated Thanksgiving at my parents’ house with extended family each year. But in recent years, we started a new tradition where my husband’s family comes to stay with us for several days.
Ready or not, this means I began hosting Thanksgiving at my house.
Gone are the days relying on my mom to play point person and hostess, with years of experience under her belt. I have now stepped into that role.
I’ve always loved hosting friends, family and even new acquaintances. So my intimidation with hosting Thanksgiving has nothing to do with inviting others into my home.
Related: True Biblical Hospitality is a Posture of the Heart
What gives me the most apprehension is the picture my mind paints of a magazine-worthy spread of perfectly cooked traditional food, amazing fall centerpieces and autumnally dressed (well-behaved) family seated expectantly around the table.
Posed magazine pictures—and most Instagram shots, for that matter—have never been my strong point. I don’t even try to replicate them, simply because that is not my life.
I’ve also always relied on my dad to cook an amazing turkey, whether he fries it or smokes it. Every time I’ve tried to cook turkey in the oven, it’s been fairly blah—despite the fact that I’m a decent cook. But with the turkey considered the nucleus of the Thanksgiving feast, I’ve found myself apprehensive about hosting Thanksgiving.
Who would have thought I’d blame a turkey for my timidity?!
But what I’ve come to realize—and it was a hard and humbling lesson learned—is that I have to re-center my focus. Instead of buying into what the media says is the perfect Thanksgiving celebration, I had to change the posture of my heart toward biblical hospitality and focus on what God says is important.
If I thought a turkey was the thing pointing people to Jesus, then I’d give it my utmost attention. But the last time I checked, it was people pointing other people to Jesus.
So as you’ll see in my hosting tips below, the turkey will find its rightful place as I host Thanksgiving at my home again this year.
And I will continue to meditate on God’s grace, using His word as a compass and yielding my heart to allow it to overflow with thankfulness:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Without further ado, here are 9 tips I’ve learned to enjoy hosting Thanksgiving at my home, with less stress and more gratefulness:
1. Prepare Ahead of Time
As with many successful events, preparation is key when it comes to hosting Thanksgiving. Whatever you can do ahead of time will pay off dividends when your family arrives for Thanksgiving.
My family is coming three days ahead of Thanksgiving Day, which means I spend the week before Thanksgiving cooking and freezing food to make dinner nights easier and faster while they’re here.
Homemade cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, butternut squash soup and gravy freeze well, so you can make them weeks before the big day. Most stuffing, dressing and casseroles can be assembled ahead of time and frozen as well.
If you have guests staying in your home, starting going room by room to clean bedrooms and bathrooms so those tasks are well out of the way before company arrives.
Another great way to prep is to set your Thanksgiving table ahead of time. (More about that in another tip below.)
2. Let Everyone Pitch In to Help
I’m a big believer that everyone can do something to help. And this concept is especially important on special holidays such as Thanksgiving.
Spread the responsibilities by letting other family members bring food for Thanksgiving. While the women are getting the food ready, let the men of the family help to watch and entertain the kids. Even let your kids help to clean up after the feast is over.
The point is: Lovingly delegate suitable tasks to those attending your celebration. Most people will be happy to help contribute to a smooth Thanksgiving Day.
3. Cater to Your Family’s Taste
While turkey and dressing are classic Thanksgiving menu options, you’re not tied to a certain menu. Instead, cater to your family’s preferences to plan out a menu that you know they will enjoy. Last year, I gave up the idea of cooking (or messing up) that perfect turkey, and instead we opted for a spiral ham. I knew my family would prefer the ham anyway, and it turned out that extended family preferred it as well.
Nix any classic food items that you know the majority won’t enjoy, and instead, think outside the box to plan a menu that will be gobbled up.
4. Time Your Cooking
Whether you choose to cook a turkey, ham or even a turducken(!), timing is everything. Meat takes the longest to cook, so be sure you time your cooking so that you don’t have hangry (hungry + angry) guests. Give guests an estimated eating time so they can plan snacks and naptimes accordingly.
Instead of keeping all the timing info in your head (risky), consider sticking your cooking schedule on a note on the fridge or setting reminders on your phone. Once the timing is mapped out, you just have to execute.
5. Make Decorating Simple and Easy
If you have time, talent and mental energy to devote to an amazing Thanksgiving tablescape, then by all means, go all out. But if you’re pulled in a million directions as hostess, it’s best to keep it simple.
Use what you have around your home. Pull in some greenery, cut flowers to arrange in vases, bring in pinecones, colorful leaves and any small pumpkins you have leftover from fall decorating. Oftentimes, simple is better—and it doesn’t detract from time spent around the table talking and connecting with family and friends.
6. Be Thankful for Family
As hostess, it’s easy to get caught up in logistics. (Remember the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10?)
Thanksgiving Day is about more than having the perfect food or festive tablescape. It’s about coming together as a family (or framily) and showing gratefulness for God’s blessings in your life.
7. Accept Grace and Say Grace
One of my biggest weaknesses is the high expectations I set for myself. In my mind, I have an idea of how I want things to play out, and I’ll admit, reality very rarely mirrors my idealism.
So on Thanksgiving Day, likely with many unforeseen obstacles thrown your way, it’s a good idea to cut yourself some slack. You may burn the casserole, the turkey (or ham) may take longer to cook than expected, you may have a last-minute guest with no extra chairs, etc.
Though as Christians, we can’t give grace to ourselves (only God can), we can apply God’s grace to our lives. Allow His grace to re-center your mind on the larger picture, not the small details.
And, of course, when family is finally seated around the Thanksgiving table, make sure you take a moment to pause and say grace, praying over food, family and God’s blessings in your lives.
8. Get Outside for a Break
For many hostesses, if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves spending hours (maybe even the whole day) working in the kitchen. And while someone has to lead the efforts for pulling together the Thanksgiving meal, it’s also important to enjoy the day.
For my family, Thanksgiving is a day when we enjoy the outdoors. In the South, the weather is often sunny and perfect for a light jacket. My kids throw the football, go grass sledding (simply sledding down a hill on dead grass!), jump in piles of leaves, ride bikes, scooters or tricycles, and simply spend time in the yard. Last year, we had a blast shooting these slingshot chickens at each other, pairing up with a family member for a duel using a tournament bracket until a winner surfaced.
If I plan food prep just right, I can also enjoy time outside with them on Thanksgiving Day, especially if I’ve used the few days before to do everything I can to prepare.
Stealing a few minutes outside helps you as hostess to relax and enjoy the blessing of family.
9. Enjoy the Leftovers
After so much time spent preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, you’re bound to have an array of leftovers once bellies are full and the table is cleared.
Use the extra food for later meals, allowing yourself rest after days of working and serving others. One of my favorite ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers is by throwing together this casserole. Sometimes, we’ll eat it right away and, sometimes, I’ll freeze it for later.
What are your tips for hosting Thanksgiving at your home?
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