Families with children can use the following activity to remember the last year and give thanks together. This reading and activity should take about 15 minutes to complete. You’ll need: markers and any sort of toys, or items used to build (legos, lincoln logs, blocks, etc.) The components should be big enough to write a word or do a simple drawing on. If you don’t have any of these, small pieces of paper will work too.

In the book of Joshua, God’s people, the Israelites, were preparing to enter the land that He had promised to give them. To help them on their way, God stopped the flow of the Jordan River, so His people could cross safely on dry land. Let’s read what happened after they crossed the river:

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

God’s people made a monument—a special structure made to remember an important event—from the rocks they took from the middle of the river. God said that whenever their children ask what the monument of stones means, the people could share the amazing ways God had been with them and helped them. 

Just like the Israelites at the Jordan River, we are going to remember the ways that God has been with us and helped us this year. I am going to ask us 5 questions to help us remember and give thanks. You can write or draw your own answer to each question on a “stone.”

What was one good thing that happened this year? 

What was one hard thing God helped us through this year? 

Where did we see God this year? 

When did you feel close to God this year?

What’s one thing from this year that we can thank God for?

Now, let’s stack or arrange all of our “rocks” together as a monument, just like the Israelites did. (Bring everyone’s pieces together and build something together out of the legos blocks, or simply compile your drawings together for a big collage)

Let’s end by praying together, thanking God for all of the ways he has been with us this year.

God, thank you for your love—thank you for helping us remember the year behind us, and all of the ways you have loved us, been with us, and helped us. 

Jesus, thank you for your friendship—help us to be with you, become like you, and do the things you did. 

Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking to us—would you guide us, teach us, and go with us wherever we go. 

Amen.