Thank You For . . .

In both Canada and the US, fall is a time of giving thanks. The timing makes sense: the summer harvest has been brought in, and later crops continue to come in from the fields. Fall is also naturally a reflective time. A feeling of things ending accompanies this part of the season cycle; plants are browning, and trees are putting on one last dazzling display, before all settling down for their winter sleep. It’s good, as part of our reflection, to look around us at the things we can be thankful for. 

Many things might come to mind as we count our blessings: family; friends; good health; food; a job; a place to live; ways to get around; pets; new opportunities; things that bring us joy and meaning, such as books, music, films, the outdoors, hobbies… A song circulating on Christian radio these days is about the singer’s desire to count all his blessings, but he can’t count that high. Once we get looking around, there really are so many things to be thankful for, even in challenging times. 

A prayer I often pray before meals is simple but keeps me grounded in gratitude: “Thank you for this day, and this time, and this [meal].” I pause after each one to think about it. 

Thank you for this day.
Sometimes I’m thankful for the day because hey, I’m still alive to live it. Other times I’m thankful because it’s Friday. On yet other days, I’m thankful because it’s the wedding day of my niece, or my best friend’s birthday, or it’s Christmas. 

Thank you for this time.
Some mornings I’m thankful for the moment I’m praying because the sun is warm on my face. Some evenings I’m thankful for the moment because the supper under my nose is sending up a delicious smell. Sometimes I’m thankful for the moment because my fridge is running, there are no bombs falling in my city, I can hear the neighbourhood kids walking to school and laughing, the cat is lapping up water a few feet away, my brother is safely back from a trip, I have this moment to pause before a busy day, or this meal is the first part of a restful evening ahead of me.

Thank you for this breakfast/lunch/supper.
This one is both very specific – thank you, God, for this particular meal (maybe cereal with milk, a bagel with fried egg, a nice beef Creole with rice, pizza, or butter chicken…) – and thank you, God, that you always provide for and protect me. This part of my prayer reminds me that many people do not have a meal right now, or don’t know where their next meal will come from. For reasons I don’t understand, God has blessed me with food to eat. Even as I wordlessly pray for people in my city and around our world to have enough food, I am grateful that I do have food.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches first in Canada and next month in the US, I pray you will have many things in your lives to be thankful for, and that you will take moments to really feel that gratitude and let it deepen your relationship with the One who provides them.