If you are facing the first holiday without a loved one, you may be trying to figure out how to spend the day. Some people choose to spend their first Thanksgiving without a loved one by going to the home of a family member or friend, but others may prefer to spend the day alone.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- ‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Mom’ Messages
- ‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Dad’ Messages
- ‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Brother or Sister’ Messages
- ‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Grandparent’ Messages
- ‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Partner or Spouse’ Messages
Regardless of your decision as to how you’ll spend Thanksgiving Day, you may take a moment to post a message on social media about how much you miss your loved one. Here are some poems, quotes, song lyrics, sayings, and messages from the heart you might want to use.
‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Mom’ Messages
If your mom was always the main cook on Thanksgiving, you might be missing more than her spirit right now. You may also be missing her cranberry salad, homemade rolls, and her ability to make lump-free gravy.
Here’s what to post on Turkey Day when you miss your mom.
1. “Happy Thanksgiving in heaven, Mom! Your absence leaves a deep void in my heart, and I miss you terribly. Still, on this day of thanks, I am so thankful for all the moments we shared. I hold them all deep in my heart.”
You may find it therapeutic to share your innermost thoughts about missing your mom. Others will appreciate your forthrightness.
2. “I’m lighting this candle with a hug and a kiss to all those in heaven who we love and miss.”
Include a photograph of a burning candle. If you aren’t a talented photographer, you can search for an image of one online.
3. “I can’t hear the hymn ‘Come, Ye Thankful People Come’ without thinking of you, Mom. Wishing you a happy heavenly Thanksgiving Day. I’m thankful you were my mom.”
What Thanksgiving memories do you have of your mom? Share those with others.
4. “As Thanksgiving Day approaches, our blessings we recall; the things we are most thankful for, we recollect them all.”
This is the first stanza of a poem called “You’ve Made a Difference” by Joanna Fuchs. Although this is not written explicitly for a mother, you can dedicate it to yours in heaven.
5. “To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven.” — Johannes Gaertner
Did your mother “live gratitude?” If you learned this trait from her, you are fortunate. Thank her for teaching you to see all the gifts in life.
‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Dad’ Messages
Perhaps it is your father who is missing from the family’s Thanksgiving celebration. Here are some “I miss you” messages to share on social media about this important man in your life.
6. “We miss you, Dad! No one wanted to carve the turkey today because that was always your job.”
Your message doesn’t have to be poetic. It doesn’t have to be about heaven or spirituality. You may choose to simply write about what you miss the most about not having your dad around on Thanksgiving. Accompany this heartfelt message with a photo of your dad.
7. “I love this quote by J.A. Shedd: ‘He who thanks but with the lips thanks but in part; the full, the true Thanksgiving comes from the heart.’ Today, I am most thankful for the life of my dad. He was a wonderful, caring father, and I miss him every day.”
Share a favorite quote with others on Thanksgiving.
8. “Dad, I always think about you when I hear ‘It’s a Great Day to Be Alive.’ You lived like every day was Thanksgiving.”
What modern song reminds you of your dad?
9. “Today I’m reminded of the verse that Dad chose for his headstone. It is ‘Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’ I am truly thankful for my Dad’s inspiring faith.”
Be specific in your Thanksgiving message. What made your dad great?
10. “Happy Thanksgiving in heaven, Dad! Sometimes I can’t believe that you are really gone.”
Again, no poetry is necessary. Speak from the heart.
‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Brother or Sister’ Messages
Perhaps it is a sibling that you are missing this Thanksgiving. Holidays are hard when those we love are missing from the dinner table. Here are some sample messages to post when you are missing a brother or a sister.
11. “Happy Heavenly Thanksgiving, Sister! You are always in my mind and forever in my heart.”
You may search for quotes about grief (similar to this one) to post.
12. “Today, I am most thankful for the life of my brother. We miss you, Eddie! We’ll see you on the other side.”
It’s normal to be sad when you miss someone who died, but it’s also okay to be happy and thankful for his life.
13. “Our hearts are sad because we are missing Bridget at Thanksgiving today, but we will still praise God for all of our blessings today.”
You may accompany a post about being thankful with this quote from the Bible: “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”
14. “In remembrance of our loved ones who will be celebrating Thanksgiving in heaven this year. We miss you all and love you very much.”
Maybe there are several people who you are missing from your Thanksgiving celebration. Here’s one way to state that you are missing multiple loved ones.
15. “Happy Thanksgiving to my brother in heaven. You are loved and missed every day!”
What do you miss the most about your sibling?
‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Grandparent’ Messages
You may have lots of beautiful memories of spending Thanksgiving with your extended family at the home of your grandparents. Here are some Thanksgiving Day wishes to share with your grandparents in heaven.
16. “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” — A.A. Milne
The creator of Winnie the Pooh wrote quite a bit about life and death. This quote might remind you of your missing grandparent.
17. “Some of my favorite memories involve waking up to the aroma of a giant turkey baking at Grandma’s house. I miss my grandparents so much!”
What scents remind you of your grandparent’s home?
18. “I can’t hear ‘Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven’ without thinking about my grandparents. Grandma would play the piano and Grandpa would sing the words every Thanksgiving. I miss you, Nana and Papa!”
One of the best ways to keep a loved one’s memory alive is by sharing stories with others. Posting a memory on your social media account may encourage your siblings and cousins to share other memories of your grandparents.
19. ‘‘We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.’ — John F. Kennedy. This quote makes me think about both sets of grandparents. I am forever thankful for their excellent example of how to raise a loving family.”
Start a trend on social media by posting pictures of past Thanksgivings.
20. “Happy Heavenly Thanksgiving, Grandma! We all miss your homemade rolls and apple pie!”
It’s okay if you associate your grandma with good cooking. Thanksgiving is an “eating holiday,” after all.
‘Happy Thanksgiving in Heaven, Partner or Spouse’ Messages
Have a plan when you face Thanksgiving without your partner or spouse. You may want to continue the traditions that your loved one enjoyed or want to spend the day alone. Here are some sample messages to share on social media to tell others how you feel on this bittersweet day.
21. “I am truly thankful for all the dinner invitations and messages I received this year, but I’m not in a very festive mood. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.”
Perhaps you can use your social media account to spread the word that you will not be answering the phone on Thanksgiving.
22. “I am so thankful to share 61 years of my life with you, Sally. Happy Thanksgiving in heaven.”
Who are you thankful for this year?
23. “Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day.”
Perhaps you need to remind yourself that your loved one is still present in your heart (and in the hearts of others).
24. “Charlie Brown said it best: ‘What if today, we were just grateful for everything?’ I’m thankful for the years I had with Susan, even though I miss her every day.”
You may encounter a quote or song lyric that reminds you of your loved one. Share it with others!
25. “Frank’s favorite saying was, ‘a thankful heart is a happy heart.’ I’m trying to remain thankful today, even though I miss Frank terribly.”
Tell your family and close friends about how you are feeling. If you are hurting, share that with them. They want to help, but they may not know what you need.
Come Up With a Strategy for Getting Through the Holidays
Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday season. If you are worried about getting through the holidays this year, come up with a plan.
Some people choose to create a special spot in the house to honor the one they are missing. Decorate the area with holiday decor and include a photograph of the one you love.
You may also plan on spending time or money supporting a charity that was important to the one you loved. You may not feel as lonely if you spend Thanksgiving Day with those who are less fortunate than you.
Remember, you are not the only person who has a difficult time with the holidays. Even though it may seem as if your social media feed is full of photos of families sharing unforgettable memories, plenty of others remain lonely.
If you're looking for more ways to celebrate a holiday after the loss of a love one, read our guides on grief during the holidays and Christmas card etiquette after a death in the family.