Thanksgiving Meditation

In all things give thanks… I Thessalonians 5:18

I attended the same private girls’ school from fourth grade until graduating from high school, and one of the nicest memories I have of my school days is having chapel first thing every morning. Sometimes we would have a speaker, a mini concert, or student talent show, but usually we would just file in and sit quietly while the organist played until all were present, then sing a hymn together and have a prayer. Before I ever developed the habit of having my private morning “devotions,” this was something to turn my mind toward God and (one would hope) get everything else in perspective for the rest of the day. (This was especially helpful during exam week!)

One hymn that we sang several times a year has been playing in my head this Thanksgiving season, and even after all these years, I remember every word of it. The lyrics were pretty non-controversial, lyrics that the Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish girls could all sing together. Even the non-religious ones didn’t seem to have any problem with it. It’s a simple song of thanks with a string of life’s gifts that “help us and delight us.”

Whether you’re especially thankful today or struggling with staying positive, here are the lyrics written so long ago to meditate on for a few moments. I hope they brighten your day.

We Thank You, Lord, for These

We thank You, Lord of heaven for all the joys that greet us,/For all that You have given to help us and delight us in earth and sky and seas./The sunlight on the meadows, the rainbow’s fleeting wonder,/The clouds with cooling shadows, the stars that shine in splendor, we thank You, Lord, for these.

For swift and gallant horses, for lambs in pastures springing,/ For dogs with friendly faces, for birds with music thronging, their chantries in the trees./For herbs to cool our fever, for flowers of field and garden,/ For bees among the clover with stolen sweetness laden, we thank You, Lord for these.

For homely dwelling places where childhood visions linger,/For friends and kindly voices, for bread to stay our hunger, and sleep to bring us ease. /For zeal and zest of living, for faith and understanding,/ For words to tell our loving, for hope of peace unending, We thank You, Lord, for these. – Jan Strother

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.