Sunday Solace: Sacred Side Dishes of Thanksgiving

Good morning, friends, and welcome to another episode of Sunday Solace.
 I’m your host, Rachael, and as we enter Thanksgiving week here in the United States — Oh My Stars — my heart is full. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. There is something about the rhythm of slowing down, cooking with our hands, gathering around tables, and remembering what matters… that just pulls us back into alignment with God’s heart.

Today’s episode is called “The Sacred Side Dishes of Thanksgiving.”
And yes — we all know the table will be filled with casseroles and cranberry sauce and those rolls that make you say “I’ll just have one more.” But today, we’re talking about the other side dishes — the ones you bring in your spirit.

The ones that nourish the room more than any recipe ever could:
 Peace. Love. Compassion. Gratitude. Presence. Trust. Connection.

These, my friend, are sacred.

Gratitude changes the brain, the body, and the soul.

1️⃣ Gratitude Improves Mental Health
 Clinical Psychology Review 

2️⃣ Gratitude Strengthens Relationships
Research in the journal Emotion (Algoe, S.B., 2012)

3️⃣ Gratitude Improves Physical Health
A study from Personality and Individual Differences (Hill, P.L., & Allemand, M., 2011)

4️⃣ Gratitude Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System
 (Kini, P., Wong, J., McInnis, S., Gabana, N., & Brown, J., 2016)

Scriptures:

• Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, and be thankful.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances…”
• Psalm 100:4: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving…”
• John 13:34: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
• Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
• Proverbs 17:22: “A joyful heart is good medicine.”

Your Intention Statement for Thanksgiving

I want you to fill this in:

“My intention is to create ______________, ______________, and ______________ for everyone involved.”

1. What sacred side dishes do I want to bring to my Thanksgiving table?
2. Where do I need to shift from a limiting intention to a values-based intention?
3. Who might need extra compassion, connection, or grace this year?
4. How can I enter Thanksgiving week with a heart of gratitude toward God?

If today blessed you, please share this episode with a friend or family member who needs a little peace this week, and if you’re ready to walk deeper into thought discipline, emotional freedom, and faith-fueled living, I’d love to walk alongside you. 

This Holiday season, I am doing something I have never done before, coaching packages are 50% off—a gift you can give yourself or someone you love. Please message me with Holiday50.

You can reach me directly at 970.279.1818, or visit GGTLife.com. You can also send a message through the website.

Stay tuned this week for another special Thanksgiving Day episode. Have a beautiful, warm, gratitude-filled Thanksgiving week, y’all.

Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach
970.279.1818

https://ggtlife.com/