One of the things I enjoyed most when I migrated to the US with my three children was the new
pattern of holidays. We loved the winter because of Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day,
neither of which they have in the UK.
Then there was the summer. My kids couldn’t believe their good fortune at schools closing for June,
July, and August (kids are only off for 6 weeks in the UK). And let’s not even mention the several
days every winter when the schools were closed for snow (we were living in Michigan, don’t forget.)
And then there was our favorite new holiday. Thanksgiving. You get a day off, followed by another
one! We discovered that the first one is spent stuffing yourself until you can’t move and the second is
devoted to shopping. What a country! I remember being asked by someone if we had Thanksgiving in
the UK. I snarkily replied, “Yes. We give thanks that those terribly dull Puritans left for the New
World.” There’s not much evidence of Puritan austerity these days.
I like to keep an electronic file of stories, quotes, and left-field news articles which I can dip into when
I’m looking for new sermon material. Under the heading ‘Thanksgiving’ I found the following prayer. I
can’t remember where I found it. All I know is that it wasn’t me who wrote it. Pity. So, if the writer of
this prayer is reading this, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to plagiarize but your work is too good to ignore.
So, perhaps, if you are looking for a good prayer for when your family and friends gather at
Thursday’s dinner table, try this. Alternatively, if you need something to meditate on, look no further.
Here goes:
For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.

We pray today for all who are too jealous to be thankful, who complain, “Why do they get everything?”
and who are always comparing themselves with those who have more.

We pray for all who have forgotten how to say thank you; who have gotten used to saying, “I earned
this,” and who truly feel they have only themselves to thank.

We pray for all who are too busy to be thankful; who asked themselves this morning, “Do I have time
to pray?”

We pray for all who are grudgingly thankful; who say, “I guess this will have to do,” while believing
that God has given them a raw deal.

We pray for all who are too tired to be thankful, who sigh, “I just want to get through this day,” and
who have no energy to open their eyes to the blessings around them.

We pray for all who are not thankful enough to be generous, who bargain with God, “I’ll be unselfish
when you give me more,” or who are free with money, but are stingy in spending time with others.

We pray for all who are barely thankful; who say the words, but don’t feel it in their hearts.

Today we pray a simple prayer. For what we have received, Lord, make us truly thankful.  Amen.