Soul Food - Food For The Soul

A Thanksgiving Wish for the Women Who Desires Wholeness and a Grateful Heart

As the season of gratitude approaches, many of us are preparing our menus, our homes, and our hearts for family gatherings.

But before the kitchen gets busy and the doorbells start ringing, I want to ask you a deeper question:

“What is your soul hungry for in this season?”

There’s a hunger that no plate on the Thanksgiving table can satisfy.

It’s not the kind that you experience physically—it’s the kind that sits quietly in your spirit…

waiting to receive.

Because the truth is—

Some of us have fed everyone else and still feel spiritually undernourished.

And this year, God is calling you to a different type of feast.

Let's Pause for a Moment.

This isn’t about the turkey.

This isn’t about the pies.

And it’s not even about the tradition.

This is about the quiet unsettling under the surface…

The hunger for peace.

The hunger for rest.

The hunger to simply be seen.

The hunger to feel God's presence.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:6,

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

There is a filling that only God can give.

There is a nourishment that only feeling aligned can supply.

There is a restoration that only knowing who you truly are will invite.

And this season, He’s inviting you to the table.

Gratitude Is a Spiritual Posture, Not a Holiday

Many treat gratitude like a seasonal accessory—something we take out in November and fold away by December.

But Scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you.”

In all things.

Not for all things, but in all things.

Gratitude is a spiritual discipline.

A heart posture.

A realignment.

A way to anchor your spirit when life tries to shift you out of position.

Every time you choose gratitude, you’re choosing to see God’s hand.

Every time you choose gratitude, you’re resisting the enemy’s attempt to distort your vision.

Every time you choose gratitude, you’re feeding your soul.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to share moments of gratitude with family and friends.

And gratitude is one of God’s most powerful tools of healing.

The Power of Having a Grateful Posture

We treat gratitude like it’s cranberry sauce:

only brought out once a year.

But gratitude—true gratitude—isn’t a holiday.

It’s a discipline.

It’s a mindset.

It’s a daily alignment.

And here’s the therapist-backed truth:

Humans are wired to focus on what’s missing, not what’s present. It’s a survival mechanism.

But it’s also the fast lane to spiritual hunger.

When you practice gratitude intentionally (emphasis on intentionally), you shift your brain, your mood, your focus, and your internal chemistry.

For example, instead of dwelling on a difficult year or strained relationships, we can recognize the small victories and acts of kindness that often go unnoticed. This shift brings peace and resilience, qualities that are especially valuable during the Thanksgiving season.

I find that reading uplifting stories or quotes about thankfulness can provide a boost when I need it most. For instance, a quote by Melody Beattie resonates deeply: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.”

Wisdom Gained Through Thankfulness

Thankfulness is a teacher. It reveals what truly matters and helps us prioritize our values. When we reflect on what we are grateful for, we gain clarity and wisdom that guide our choices.

For example, I have learned that relationships and moments of connection hold more lasting value than material possessions. This insight encourages me to invest time and energy in nurturing bonds with loved ones, especially during Thanksgiving.

The Holidays Can Be Joyous… But They Can Also Carry Sadness

We don’t talk about this enough.

The holidays can trigger memories, losses, responsibilities, expectations, and emotional labor—especially for women.

Women carry the heart of the home.

We set the tone.

We fill the atmosphere.

We absorb the unsaid and smooth the unspoken.

But this year, God wants you to remember this:

You are allowed to be nourished too.

Psalm 23:3 says,

“He restores my soul.”

Not the holiday. Not the tradition. Not the expectation...but, YOU...your very soul.

This season, don’t just prepare the table—

Let God prepare you.

A Tender Word for the Woman Spending the Holiday's Alone

Before we go any further, I want to speak to the woman who may not have anyone to gather with this season.

Because the truth is—not everyone has a full house, a bustling living room, or a table surrounded by family.

And for some, this season doesn’t bring togetherness—it brings silence…

empty seats…and a quiet hurt you don’t always wish talk about.

But hear my heart:

Being physically alone does not mean you have to be spiritually lonely.

God’s Word promises us in Psalm 34:18,“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

And in Hebrews 13:5, He reminds us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Even if no one walks through your door, God walks into your space, sits with you, and fills the room with His presence. You are held. You are seen. You are not abandoned.

And this year, if the holidays look different for you, I want to encourage you to use this time positively and intentionally, not as punishment, but as a sacred pause.

Three Spirit-Led Ways to Use This Time Without Feeling Alone

1. Create a Personal Sanctuary

Turn your space into a retreat.

Light a candle, sip a warm cup of tea, play your favorite playlist, wrap yourself in a warm, fuzzy blanket, and sit with God... in stillness.

Read Psalm 16:11:

“In Your presence is fullness of joy. ”This is your time to breathe, reset, restore, and receive.

2. Write a Gratitude Letter to God

Open a journal and write to Him as if you were speaking heart-to-heart.

List what He has carried you through.

What He has provided.

What He has healed.

What He has protected you from.

What He has promised.

You will feel His nearness as you write—because gratitude brings God into the room.

3. Serve Someone Else Quietly and Anonymously

Loneliness loses its power when love and peace becomes your focus.

You can:

• Provide a meal to a single mother and her family or the elderly

• Message someone who’s grieving

• Pay for a stranger’s coffee or groceries

• Volunteer at a shelter or give clothing to someone who can benefit from your kindness

Because Proverbs 11:25 says,

“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” When you pour, God fills.

A Word for the Grieving Heart

If you have lost someone—and the holidays now hold both beauty and heartbreak—I want to gently remind you:

Honor their life by honoring your memories.

Light a candle for them.

Cook their favorite dish.

Speak their name.

Share a story.

Look at a picture that brings you joy.

Thank God for the chapters they helped write in your life.

Philippians 1:3 says,

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

Grief is love with nowhere to go—so give it a place.

Give it intentional space.

Give it permission to breathe.

And let those memories become ministry to your soul.

Release the Stress, The Overwhelm, and The Pressure

The holiday's are not a contest for the most achieved.

It's not a performance based relationship.

It's not a standard you must meet.

You don’t owe perfection.

You don’t owe productivity.

You don’t owe expectations.

Matthew 11:28 still stands:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Rest is not a reward.

Rest is a right.

Rest is sacred.

And this year—if the season feels heavy—I pray you choose peace, choose gratitude, and choose the Creator of your soul. For He knows what you stand in need of.

Some Traditions Are Assignments. Others Are Attachments.

There comes a moment when God begins to whisper: “Daughter, you don’t have to carry this anymore.”

Traditions are beautiful when they bring joy—

But harmful when they cost you your peace.

Therefore, just because something is familiar doesn’t mean it’s still fruitful. So make sure you find your peace and protect your energy.

Isaiah 43:19 reminds us,

“Behold, I am doing a new thing…”

If God is doing something new, you don’t have to cling to what’s old.

This might be the year you:

✨ Choose a smaller gathering

✨ Create a new ritual

✨ Give yourself permission to rest

✨ Tell the truth about what’s draining you

✨ Protect your heart without guilt

Everything that is traditional is not transformational.

Nourishment Is a Form of Self-Respect

The same way you feed your body, your soul requires intentional nourishment.

This season, choose to feed yourself:

✨ Peace over perfection

✨ Connection over performance

✨ Rest over business

✨ Stillness over rushing

✨ Truth over pretending

✨ Worship over worrying

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Guarding your heart is not selfish—it’s spiritual stewardship.

Finding Encouragement in Everyday Life

Encouragement fuels our spirit, especially when life feels overwhelming. During this Thanksgiving Season, it’s important to seek and offer encouragement, both to ourselves and others. This can be as simple as acknowledging someone’s effort or reminding ourselves of our strengths.

Your Soul work for This Thanksgiving Season

Set aside quiet time and reflect on these questions:

1. Lord, what part of me has been starving for Your attention?

2. What am I ready to release so I can breathe and heal again?

3. What joy, peace, or wholeness am I intentionally choosing with You this season?

Let God minister to the places that hunger still lives.

Closing Meditation

As you gather around the table this year—remember that Thanksgiving is not about a date but about a heart posture.

It’s about pausing long enough to recognize God’s faithfulness.

It’s about honoring the blessings you didn’t expect, but desperately needed.

It’s about remembering that your soul deserves to be fed just as beautifully as your family.

You are worthy of nourishment.

You are worthy of peace.

You are worthy of rest.

You are worthy of God’s tenderness.

This season, choose to be intentional.

Choose to be grateful.

Choose to be restored.

Choose to be fed.

Because you, dear friend, are deserving of all things good and of every blessing to your soul.

With Grace, Intention, and a Heart Full Of Gratitude,

Happy Thanksgiving,

Latonia A. Dior

The Formule'