When one of my publishers asked me to add a Thanksgiving book to my holiday board book series, it took a while for me to decide what to write. The story of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower would be too long to squeeze into twenty-four lines!

I considered what Thanksgiving means to young children and the answer was obvious. Young children celebrate Thanksgiving with family, and it’s a time to thank God for our blessings. The text became a simple prayer, thanking God for food, family, mountains, birds, bumblebees, and more.

Thanksgiving is a day to thank God for his provisions throughout the year. It’s a time to reflect on the past, present, and future with grateful hearts. Having a designated day to express our thanks to God is something to celebrate. But of course, we can remember to say thank you anytime we talk to God.

When we thank God for something specific, it allows us to give God credit for his activity in our everyday lives. Healing a grandchild’s illness, restoring a friend’s marriage, getting an opportunity we were hoping for—the list is endless. I’ve even thanked God for a good parking spot on a rainy afternoon! Being grateful not only honors God but also helps us focus on our blessings rather than our problems.

If God surprises you today with an unexpected blessing, or if you simply make it through another day, spend a moment with him and just say thank you.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34 ICB).

Crystal Bowman is an award winning, best-selling author of more than 100 books for children. She is a speaker and mentor for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and teaches at writers’ conferences throughout the U.S. She is a monthly contributor to Clubhouse Jr. Magazine and writes lyrics for children’s piano music.