Gratitude in Meaningful Relationships: A Four-Day Thanksgiving Devotion Series (2025)
By Dr. James L. Cartee III
Thanksgiving invites us to pause, breathe, and look closely at the relationships that shape our lives. In a world that often moves too fast, this holiday reminds us that true gratitude is found not in things, but in people—those God has placed in our lives to guide, grow, comfort, and encourage us.
This four-day Thanksgiving Devotion Series (2025) explores four types of meaningful relationships: close friends, family (grandparents, parents, and siblings), mentors, and our spouses and children.
Together, they form a powerful reminder that “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17, NIV).
Below you’ll find each devotion video with a written summary to help you reflect and share the message with others.
✨ Day 1: The Gift of Close Friends
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/o_6k1vaNuvE
Summary
The series begins by focusing on the blessing of close friends—those who walk beside us during joyful seasons and stand with us through the hardest moments. True friendship reflects the heart of God, offering loyalty, encouragement, strength, and compassion.
We reflected on Scriptures such as:
- Proverbs 17:17 (NIV): “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
- John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Close friends sharpen us, challenge us, and remind us that we do not have to navigate life alone. During Thanksgiving, taking a moment to express gratitude to a friend can strengthen a bond that may have quietly shaped your life for years.
✨ Day 2: The Gift of Grandparents, Parents, and Siblings (Close Family)
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/jOPLQ_cdu0Y
Summary
Day 2 centers on family—the foundation of many of our earliest memories and life lessons. We reflected on grandparents whose influence continues even after they are gone, parents who sacrifice more than we ever realized, and siblings who walk with us from childhood into adulthood.
Scriptures highlighted include:
- Exodus 20:12 (NIV): “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
- Psalm 133:1 (NIV): “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
This devotion includes personal reflections about my own family, including my grandparents who are deeply missed, my parents who supported me through difficult academic seasons, and my sister whose kindness shaped so many of my younger years. Thanksgiving reminds us not to take these relationships for granted.
✨ Day 3: The Gift of Mentors
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/xw8rbx7_TmQ
Summary
On Thanksgiving Day, we turned our attention to mentors—people God uses to guide, challenge, and shape us. Whether in our careers, our education, or our faith journeys, mentors help us become better versions of ourselves.
Biblical examples remind us of the power of mentorship:
- Proverbs 11:14 (NIV): “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
- 2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV): “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…”
I also shared stories of the business mentors who influenced my early career and the academic mentors who encouraged me through graduate school. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reach out and express appreciation to someone whose guidance changed your path.
✨ Day 4: The Gift of Spouses & Children
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/qVFMEOwKV0E
Summary
The final devotion celebrates the most intimate relationships in our lives: our spouses and children. These are the people who fill our days with laughter, memories, routines, and joy. They represent God’s daily favor and are often the ones who see us at our best and worst.
Scriptures guiding this message include:
- Proverbs 18:22 (NIV): “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
- Psalm 127:3 (NIV): “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
- Colossians 3:14 (NIV): “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
In this devotion, I shared personal stories, including concert date nights with my wife, Lisa; the day I asked her to marry me; fun traditions with our children, Annabelle and Jace; and the joy of investing in simple family moments. Gratitude strengthens love, and love deepens gratitude.
🌟 Final Reflection: Why These Devotions Matter
As we move through the holiday season, gratitude becomes a spiritual practice that resets our minds and renews our hearts. When we take time to reflect on meaningful relationships, such as friends, family, mentors, spouses, and children, we begin to truly appreciate the people who have shaped our lives in both big and small ways. These devotions remind us that gratitude invites peace, strengthens relationships, shifts our hearts toward what truly matters, and honors God for the blessings He has given. In a world filled with distraction and hurry, Thanksgiving calls us to slow down, notice the gifts right in front of us, and “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). My prayer is that these four devotions bring encouragement, reflection, and warmth to your heart this season and remind you that some of the greatest blessings in life are the ones sitting right beside you.
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