A Simple Prayer of Thanksgiving


Lord, today we thank You for Your many blessings and gifts to us. We thank You for the precious gift of family and friends -- for all those who are here with us today and those who are far away. Let us never take them for granted, but help us to show our love and for them daily through our words and actions.

Thank You for our faith and for the graces we receive so abundantly from You each day through participation in Holy Mass and in the sacraments. Thank You for the gift of being there for us always when we call upon You in prayer. Thank You especially for the gift of the Holy Eucharist, in which You give yourself completely to us and become small so that we might grow large in our love for You.

We thank You for showing Yourself to us in the beauty of nature -- in the heavenly blue skies, the birds that sing songs of praise to You, the sunlight, which reflects Your radiance, the mountaintops, which manifest Your grandeur. Thank You for the autumn harvest, the summer fields,  the spring blooms, and the winter snow. Thank You for your animal creatures and for our pets, who give us unconditional love. You placed them here on earth to give us affection. For this, we are grateful.

Thank You for the roof over heads and a warm place to sleep each night. Thank You for providing nourishing food. Thank You for all of the food on our table today. It is a feast for which we are truly overwhelmed.

We thank You for all those You have brought into our lives to lead us, to guide us, to instruct us, and to protect us. Thank You for the Holy Father, the cardinals, bishops, priests, sisters, and all our religious. Thank You for our Christian leaders in the government, for our military, and police. Thank You for teachers, counselors, and mentors. Bless each of them in a special way today, Lord.

Bless all who live and die today and especially our loved ones who are not with us today. Thank You for the gift of their lives and the time we had with them on earth.

Thank You most of all for the gift of Your infinite love, which is always there for us. Let us never take this for granted, but keep us always faithful to You and grant us the grace to know, love, and serve You with all our hearts, minds, and souls. We ask this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

~ Copyright November 2012 Jean M. Heimann


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