“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord . . .
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise” (Psalm
100: 1, 4).
Thanksgiving in America is becoming a holiday to hurry through as people plan their Black Friday shopping and
enter the Christmas season. Instead of
celebrating a season of thanksgiving,
we rush through the holiday with only
a passing prayer of gratitude. This
year, let’s slow down, and observe a
whole month of thanksgiving through
music.
We all know and enjoy the music of
the Christmas season, but it is easy to
overlook the rich Thanksgiving options.
Since we don’t hear Thanksgiving songs
on the radio or on our electronic devices, we must purpose to include them in
our homes. Here are some favorites to
get you started.
Over the River and Through the Woods.
Many of us sang this charming song as
children. Talk with your children about
family holiday traditions. Discuss how
celebrations have changed through the
years. Make pumpkin pie, as mentioned
in the song. This is a great time to teach
some traditional home-keeping skills,
too. You can hear it performed here.
Write a thank-you song to God. Recite
Psalm 100 with your children each night
during November while tucking them
into bed; they will soon have it hidden in
their hearts. It will then seem natural to
turn a verse or two into a song of thanks
to God. After all, we write thank-you
notes to everyone else; why not write a
thank-you song to please our Heavenly
Father?
Learn the great Thanksgiving hymns.
Take advantage of your child’s natu-
ral ability to memorize. Learn as many
hymns (including all the verses) as you
can; the music makes remembering the
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
by Marcia K. Washburn
Make a Joyful Noise
This Thanksgiving
This year, let’s slow
down, and observe
a whole month
of thanksgiving
through music.
