Thanksgiving 2024 and the Election Season: Family Fun or Political Pain?

After this year’s presidential vote, much has been made about the political fallout for families.

For those of us who prayed, worked, and donated – it was almost too much to believe the landslide election that ushered in what promises to be a new beginning for our declining nation.

President Trump is preparing for office, rapidly assembling his cabinet nominations, a team of pro-America “avengers.” And more than half the nation is thankful for a decisive, unquestioned outcome. After the nightmarish 2020 race, with COVID-19 and numerous allegations of voting irregularities, November 5th is in the rear-view mirror, and more than half the nation can finally exhale.

Meanwhile, others mourn.

They are screaming into their iPhones and posting their pain on TikTok, shaving their heads, promising sex strikes, and wondering how they might leave the country to start anew in Spain, Albania, or Vietnam. Meanwhile, a lesser-known cruise line is offering a four-year cruise to escape the promised desolation of the coming Trump presidency.

These expressions of grief were one thing, and we should feel compassion. However, it’s important to note that mainstream media was thick with outright lies about the now President-elect throughout the campaign season – and sadly – not everyone knows who to believe.

In one instance, tragically, a woman in Washington state allegedly killed her dad on election night with an ice axe and was arrested that evening, covered in her father’s blood.¹ Another man reportedly murdered his wife and kids, a former girlfriend, before his suicide over his election woe.² The left-leaning media should take responsibility for the pain and tragic suffering they have caused with their concocted Hitler/dictator/end of democracy narrative.

So now, it’s Thanksgiving.

The divide was vast, and emotional, so what will it look like around the table this year?

Many of us have family members who disagreed vehemently with our voting choices. One distant relative asked us to abstain from voting rather than cast our ballot for President Trump. Passions ran high – and are still at a fever pitch for some.

How can we navigate this wonderful American holiday and hope to return peace and gratitude to our dinner table once again?

Has there ever been a Thanksgiving with America so very divided?

Actually, yes.

It was even worse the year that the president called for the last Thursday in November to be a “Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father…” The beautifully worded proclamation spoke of gratitude for God’s goodness despite America’s failings and for the prosperity and protection, He granted our nation from foreign invading forces during a time of American turmoil. President Lincoln set aside the day forever to be celebrated in America – beginning in 1863 during the height of the Civil War.

It was described as “brother against brother” as our nation took up arms against itself. Though for a noble cause, it was a time when the soul of our young country was fraught and in danger of collapse. That war cost the US more than 600,000 of her sons, which, compared to our current population rate, would be like losing six million of our men and women today. So, 2024’s strife pales to the year that Lincoln proclaimed a day to stop, reflect, and give thanks to God.

The concept of Thanksgiving is weighty and more significant than our differences. It was forged in the blood of our ancestors and given to us, along with the freedoms we enjoy.

If there was ever a time to drop the politics and link arms as Americans, Thanksgiving should be that moment.

Several weeks beyond the election, more and more of the Trump faithful are feeling braver, coming out with red hats, busting a Trump-style move to his signature jam, “YMCA.” It’s in college and pro football, at professional fights, and even on the US Soccer circuit.

On the other side, political pain and anger are loud on social platforms and in the media. Outraged pundits like MSNBC’s Joy Reid lamented, with a Yale psychologist, the perils of holiday gatherings. Then, their thoughts were echoed on The View. Whoopi Goldberg discussed with her colleagues that people may want to “sit this one out” rather than be with family members who voted for President Trump. Reverend Al Sharpton even suggested that if you find yourself stuck with objectionable relatives and friends, “Act like you’re listening to the other family members and friends that disagree with you, even if you’re not listening. Pretend.”

Seems a little callous – and unkind. We know the pain is real, but we can do better.

Here are a few ideas to turn turkey day into a win-win for all.

1. Focus on Gratitude

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks to God. That has always been central to this special day.

If you live in America, whether your candidate won or not, you are among the wealthiest people in the world. God has blessed you. Take it around the table and allow everyone to share what they are thankful for this year. Start with the blessing to live in the freedom we enjoy, to worship, to vote, to voice our opinions – and to be forgiven by a gracious and giving God.

We have some family-friendly ideas for sharing gratitude in a previously published blog with “5 Creative Ideas to Make Thanksgiving Last All Year Long.”

2. Don’t Talk Politics – or Do

Perhaps it’s too much and too divisive for dear family members who don’t understand what happened to their candidate on November 5th. Why not shelve politics for one blessed day? Text everyone beforehand and let them know that political talk will not be welcome so everyone can have a break from the drama, instead feeling welcome and loved.

Then again, your clan may not fear the dreaded political talk. So, if your family is up for it, have at it! There’s certainly a lot to talk about. Starting with the “First Buddy” Elon Musk and ending with what the tattoo on Pete Hegseth’s chest means. It’s a Jerusalem Cross… please discuss…

3. Watch Football, Play Games, and Laugh

Connect again in ways that may not have been possible in recent weeks or months. Pull out the cards or enjoy a game of Yahtzee. Watch football as you enjoy a second piece of pie, or how about watching a Christmas movie on Great American Christmas (my new favorite holiday channel)?

Hosting a day filled with laughter and fun activities is a positive way to reconnect with family and friends. It may be surprising that those who seemed like villains during recent political discord – are still the same people you always loved.

4. Take a Nap

It’s hard to go wrong with this one. Let the tryptophan do its thing and dream of lower inflation and a closed border. It’s coming.

5. Thank God for Your Wonderfully Weird, Fantastically Fun, and Definitely Different Family

Remind yourself once again of how very blessed you are. Pray for those you disagree with. Ask God to bless them and help them to discover that the next four years will be good for them, too.

Most of all – thank God. He loves you and this collection of wild and wooly individuals you call family. They and the richness of friends are among His most generous blessings.

Before closing, we’d like to share a bit more of the Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863. We can’t say it any better than our 16th president:

“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”

From all of us here at Moms for America, we wish you a most wonderful Thanksgiving Day. As we count our blessings this year, without a doubt, we are endlessly grateful for you, mamas.

Podcast Note: Lauree Simmons has been recognized by the Governor of Florida as a hero in that state for her life-saving work creating and running the largest cage- free, no-kill dog rescue in the nation. Big Dog Ranch Rescue is a refuge for dogs of all sizes waiting to find their forever families. On this week’s podcast, we enjoyed learning more about her love and efforts to give rescued dogs a second chance at life. Check out this week’s podcast!

¹ nypost.com – murder of Washington father

² nypost.com – family murder/suicide

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