As the holiday season kicks into full swing and the aroma of pumpkin spice permeates the air, Thanksgiving brings a sense of familiar comfort. It’s a natural and beautiful impulse to turn our focus to our closest circle during this holiday. We anticipate the laughter of family, the shared history around the table, and the joy of being surrounded by those we love most as we refresh and reconnect before the final push of the calendar year.

This special time of gathering and gratitude is something that many of us cherish. However, as the days grow shorter and the preparations begin, if we look beyond the warmth of our own hearth, we can’t help but notice places where that same warmth is sorely missed.

This week’s Radical Stewardship™ blog asks: Who is our neighbor in this season of thanks?

Widening Our Circle of Care

As we prepare to celebrate this day of thanks with those closest to us, consider how Jesus Himself defined the inseparable concepts of seeing a neighbor and being a neighbor. In Luke, chapter 10, Jesus expanded the definition of neighbor far beyond the people around our holiday table. His response to the question, “And who is my neighbor?” reveals that the boundaries of compassion are wider than we often assume, and He invites us to extend our gaze beyond our immediate and comfortable associations and become a neighbor to those we see.

This Thanksgiving, our neighbor may be closer than we think. The college student or coworker who recently moved to town, miles away from their family support system, may be spending the day alone in a quiet apartment. Your elderly neighbor who always has a kind word for you may be eating a simple meal by themselves for the first time since their spouse passed away. The young family down the street who is navigating financial challenges may be struggling to provide the kind of holiday meal they wish they could offer their children. The immigrant from another country, dedicated to making a better life for their family, may be missing the familiar culture and customs of home. And let us not forget those who are working tirelessly on Thanksgiving Day: the healthcare professionals, first responders, and service workers who keep our world moving while we enjoy a day of rest.

This is not a call to take all the world’s struggles upon ourselves. Rather, it is an invitation to pause and look with open eyes, allowing our gratitude for what we have to translate into practical generosity toward others.

When Quiet Is Too Loud

This holiday season, the person who is alone might even be you. Life has a way of shifting our circumstances. A recent loss, a separation, a career change, or even an unexpected travel complication can mean that the seat you were hoping to fill with a loved one is unexpectedly empty. The quiet of your own home might feel less like peaceful reflection and more like isolation. If this is your situation, you are not alone. Your experience is seen and shared by many.

This time can be a reminder that finding ways to give, even in a small way, can be a path back to feeling connected and centered. Offering a simple act of service can be an anchor when personal circumstances feel adrift. When you yourself turn outward to meet a neighbor’s small need, you may find that your own spirit is gently lifted. Love poured out has a way of circulating back, as scripture reminds us: “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:25).

Practical Ways to Love Your Neighbor This Holiday

The beauty of extending our circle of care is that it does not require grand gestures or elaborate planning. While large, organized, volunteer efforts are noble and greatly appreciated, for those of us navigating demanding schedules, the most impactful acts are often the simplest, woven gently into the fabric of our existing holiday plans. These small offerings can make a meaningful difference to someone else while also serving as a humble expression of our gratitude to God. As the apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Letting Christ’s peace rule means allowing it to expand our capacity for gratitude and service beyond our immediate needs, even if only by a few degrees.

As you look with a compassionate heart upon your own neighbors, consider these practical ways to extend your holiday table:

• Set an extra seat at the table. If you are aware of someone (perhaps a colleague, a friend of a friend, or a neighbor) who will be alone, a sincere invitation to join your gathering could be a welcome connection. This doesn’t need to be a formal affair, but simply the gift of belonging for a few hours over a shared meal.
• A thoughtful phone call can bridge the distance. For those who live far away or might be unable to attend, a brief, genuine phone call can pierce the loneliness. Hearing a friendly voice sincerely asking, “How are you doing today?” is often more meaningful than a quick text message.
• Extend the cheer beyond mealtime. Not everyone is comfortable joining a gathering where they might feel they are intruding on a private family tradition. Others may simply prefer to keep the holiday itself quiet. You might suggest sharing a low-key activity the following day or over the weekend. An invitation to see a movie, take a casual walk in the crisp afternoon air, or simply come together for coffee and conversation can be a welcome change of pace from solitude.
• Deliver a meal and share the moment. If an invitation to your home doesn’t feel quite right for either of you, preparing an extra plate and delivering it is a lovely alternative. Even better, if appropriate, take the time to sit and share the meal with the person. A single hour of shared presence can offer more encouragement than a dozen solitary meals.

The Gift of Abundance

One of my own personal favorite ways to embrace this spirit of giving thanks is by deliberately over-preparing for the holiday. It’s an exercise in abundance, a joyful acknowledgement that God has blessed us all with more than enough. For me, this means intentionally cooking too much of everything: an oversized turkey, piles of mashed potatoes, an extra pan of stuffing, tons of green bean casserole, and a boat load of gravy. When all the guests have retired from the dinner table to the game table or parked themselves in front of the TV to watch their favorite football team, I like to package up several full thanksgiving meals in disposable containers with plastic cutlery, a bottle of water, and a slice of pumpkin pie. Then, I grab a family member or friend, and together, we drive around town with these meal kits, looking for folks who are struggling and living on the streets, or those simply sitting alone outside.

There’s a quiet, shared dignity in giving and receiving a complete, home-cooked meal, especially when it includes an extra touch of love in the form of home-made pumpkin pie, complete with whipped cream on top. So often, this simple gesture creates moments of pure, shared connection, a brief acknowledgement that someone is seen and valued, even in the midst of their hardship. The holiday meal is offered without expectation. I simply share a genuine smile and a word of encouragement, lending an ear and offering to pray with them if they’d like.

However you choose to extend your table, the simple act of looking someone in the eye, connecting heart-to-heart, and sharing the overflow of God’s abundance is the essence of true gratitude. As we read in Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

The True Essence of Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, as the warmth of the season fills your home, I encourage you with a gentle challenge to look around and discover who your neighbor is, and consider how you might be a neighbor to them. It’s not about religion or obligation. It is simply about responding to the love we have already been given by extending kindness, grace, and connection to a neighbor who needs a you-flavored dose of God’s abundant love. In doing so, you just might find that the true meaning of this Thanksgiving holiday settles upon you with a renewed and genuine sense of gratefulness.

I wish you, your family and loved ones, and the neighbors you include in your extended table a peaceful Thanksgiving, overflowing with the abounding love of God.

Comment below or connect with me directly to share how you extended your table to a neighbor this Thanksgiving!