Today our children, their spouses and children, will gather together for our bi-annual family reunion and thanksgiving. In my quiet time, this Thanksgiving morning, this is the prayer I penned and that I will share before our Thanksgiving family meal.

My Thanksgiving Prayer – 2024

O my Father, my Abba, my Lord, I an thankful to you today

• for my soul – my mind, emotions, and will – that you knew before time, that you created and called to love you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and for the neighbors that you have commissioned me to love others as myself,
• for my body, that you have given to me, that you formed and knitted together in my mother’s womb, that you fearfully and wonderfully crafted,
  • for preserving my strength and vigor,
  • for providing senses to enjoy delights,
  • for the ease and freedom of my limbs and joints,
  • for hand, eyes, and ears to hear and see and do what you desire for me to see, hear, and do,
• for a heart that feels sorrows, sufferings, needs, and injustices,
  • for the ability to serve others and a mind to care for others,
  • for opportunities to spread joy, blessing, and happiness around,
• for your abundant generosity which provides me daily support and resources,
  • for the gift and joy of my family and friends,
  • for plentiful bounty, a warm home, a full table, and an overflowing cup,
  • for appetite and taste and sweetness, needed nourishment and enjoyable deserts,
  • for loved ones who now are living the joys of heaven and your presence, and your promise that there I one day will see you clearly there.
• I love you, Lord, above the powers of language and the capabilities of writing for all you are to me, all you mean to me, and all you’ve done for me, my family, and all that you invite anyone anywhere to experience.
• May I worship you this next year by being salt that is flavorful and light that is winsome and attractive to all whose path I may cross.
• May all you do in and through me and my family this next year bring you glory and honor and praise.
• For all these counted blessings and for all the countless gifts, recognized and not, that you have bestowed upon me, and for those being stored up for me in the future and into eternity, on this day of national Thanksgiving, I pause with my family to say we love you and we thank you.
• Thank you, dear Father. Continue to increase our love for and endless gratitude to you now, through time, and into eternity.

In the precious and holy name of your Son, Jesus, I pray.