I love Thanksgiving. Food, fall, family, friends, and football. I always take some time to be grateful. One of the things I’m thankful for is you! Thanks for being part of my life.
The following prayer is from Prayers from the Water’s Edge. I encourage you to pray it on Thanksgiving, as a family, before your meal. Or by yourself sometime during the day.
Dear God,
Create in me a thankful heart.
Develop in me a grateful mind.
Give me an appreciative spirit.
I confess feelings of jealously toward the actions of others.
I confess feelings of envy toward the possessions, attributes, and skills of others.
I confess feelings of greed that have caused ungratefulness in my life.
Create in me a thankful heart.
I have focused on what I don’t have rather than what I do have.
I have taken for granted many of your blessings.
I have wanted more than I have needed.
Create in me a thankful heart.
For Your fellowship. For my family. For my friends.
I give you thanks.
For a warm bed to sleep and good food to eat
For clean water to drink and a clear mind to think
For comfortable clothes to wear and a life to share
I give you thanks.
For Your grace for my mistakes
For Your power when I am weak
For Your love when I am alone
I give you thanks.
For Your presence and promise in times of grief and trials
For Your hope and light in days of despair and darkness
For creating the unique person I am
I give you thanks.
For laughter and smiles and hugs and most tears
For the ability to embrace and to be embraced
For recovery, restoration, repair, and reconciliation
I give you thanks.
Give me an appreciative spirit.
Develop in me a grateful mind.
Create in me a thankful heart.
Amen.
