Lord, on this day grant us the humility to recognize all the gifts we have been given and acknowledge all the reasons we have to be grateful in our lives. It is so easy to let daily trials and tribulations convince us we have little for which to give thanks....nothing could be farther from the truth.
Thank you for the gift of life. Often we take our existence for granted and don't see it for the miracle it is. We have been born into a land of plenty and even as we struggle to keep food on the table, a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs, there are those so much worse off for whom each new day is a struggle to survive. For them, loneliness, despair and loss of hope are daily companions. As millions of Americans face poverty and our nation seems to be more selfish, thank You for those who care in our lives and for the generosity of strangers towards those in need.
Thank you for those we gather with on this day. We join family or friends or perhaps we reach out to strangers, please bless all who gather today in love and fellowship.
Thank you for all those who provide food on this day. Bless the farmers, and all who get it to our table. Thank You for those who spend hours and days lovingly preparing and creating the table we will all share. We are so grateful for the stories and tales, the laughter and joy, the love and care we will experience today.
Oh COMFORTER, we know it is difficult to be thankful with tragedy and economic storms battering our world, but we refuse to give in...refuse to become callous...refuse to lose faith.
With the knowledge we can make this a more bountiful land again, and belief in the basic goodness of people, thank You for all who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit prisoners and heal the sick, for through them the WORLD IS ALIVE WITH THE GRANDEUR OF GOD.
Bernie, Thank you for your kind and simple words.
ReplyDeleteIn these times so many need a message of hope and inspiration. God bless you and your family. You are missed.
Thank You, Gracious God, for those who pray for others, too, knowing Your desire that we all be one.
ReplyDeleteBernie, Prayers for you and yours continue, too.
Bernie I have been missing your articles. Thanks for the prayer. I have been following your career for years, even after I moved to Santa Maria. I would love to come and see you. Is that possible? Jack Stegeman at jesteg1@verizon.net
ReplyDeletethank you for finding the time and energy to post this beautiful prayer.
ReplyDeleteTis good to hear your voice again if only in my memory of how I used to hear it and thank you again for posting that most meaningful of Thanksgiving prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting your Thanksgiving prayer!! I was thrilled to see it last year when my family was all together. This year my son is spending Thanksgiving in prison. I will send him a copy of your prayer to remind him of our family tradition of reading your prayer before we would eat our dinner. May God bless you and your family!!
ReplyDeleteWe love and miss you Bernie---The Kennedys
So glad I found you again! Wondered if you had the same email.
ReplyDeleteThe pedophile speaks. I listened to KGO too even you even though I never agreed with you in fact I thought your theology was bizzare. - There is no hell, what do they teach in those Catholic seminaries.. I liked John Rothmann didn't agree with him either, but at least he was intelligent and knew his stuff. I think it is a mistake what KGO is doing, and I think it will backfire, but it was because of ratings pure and simple
ReplyDeletei really miss you. now i miss KGO. Thank God for npr...
ReplyDelete