Monday, November 19, 2012

THANKSGIVING PRAYER 2012


 We give you thanks because all creation is blessed with your gifts, oh God.

     Too often, we lose sight of all you have given; mistaken in the belief and pride so much we earned is through our own efforts and will.  It's a pride which puffs us up, but separates us from You and each other and causes our egos to overtake our hearts.  On this Thanksgiving Day, may we be filled with the humility to acknowledge our weakness and recognize with gratitude all we have received from You.

     Thank you for the richness of our land, and the generosity we extend to each other.  This year we endured national calamities of unprecedented scope.  Yet, even at the darkest time, we experience acts of kindness and care, all undeserved, which ennoble none the less.

     Thank you for the gift of family and friends and all who touch our lives.  In a society where loneliness and isolation increase...where we know fewer and fewer of our neighbors...where we long for significant others in our lives, we are grateful for anyone who reaches out to show us an ounce of care and compassion even as it should inspire us to do the same.

     Thank you for the kindness of strangers.  Many of us are separated from our family and loved ones, either because of choices we made or circumstance, and are grateful for the warmth of human contact and empathy.

     Thank you for all who produced the bounty we share today.  Too often we forget that the efforts of those who cultivate our food and sustenance are a gift to all of us.  Thank you for those who prepared the food we share and the fellowship, which emerges around our tables.  Many today will listen to stories repeated year after year...thank you this year for the gift of true listening and the realization of our common humanity and bonds which those stories communicate.

     Thank you for the food on our tables...the clothes on our backs...the roof over our heads...knowing there are so many who lack any and all of this in their lives.  We remember whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do for You.

     On this Thanksgiving Day, may we never forget how lucky we are THE WORLD IS ALIVE WITH THE GRANDEUR OF GOD!

6 comments:

  1. I found a cassette of a part of one of Bernie's shows on KGO.
    It is not God Talk, but he came on right after Gene Burns, whom I was recording.
    This would have been early in the Bush presidency, at the time of the death of Pope John Paul 2; I think it was broadcast before Bernie was entrapped.
    You'll hear on this clip some of the reasons Karl Rove had to get him.

    CLICK ON THIS if you care to listen to the voice of Bernie Ward on KGO from long ago.

    https://dl.dropbox.com/u/33888310/Bernie%20Ward%20at%20KGO.mp3

    from: learningcoach@att.net
    or 707.921.8423 ... James of Cloverdale

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so pleased to see a Thanksgiving prayer for this year, Bernie! Thank you so much for writing one. My family deeply appreciates being able to continue our tradition of reading your prayer before we eat our Thanksgiving meal. There has been some changes in our family, not very good ones, so it helps to keep alive a tradition to help comfort us.

    We miss listening to you Bernie! We love you! God bless you and your family.

    The Kennedys

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for the prayer, Bernie!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hope you were able to see you family, Bernie.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for the Thanksgiving prayer, Bernie!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for the Thanksgiving prayer. I'm so happy to hear from you and am counting the days, it's on my calendar, for when you'll be out. You're a lucky person to have a sharp mind and this gift of communication so that people continue to follow what you have to say. I wish you and your family the best for the upcoming holiday season.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete