An American's Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Thanksgiving is a special American holiday -- a holy day -- with a bittersweet history... for we recognize the irony associated with this remembrance day -- the fact that the good fortune of so many has been due to the contributions of others -- sometimes freely, sometimes not freely, given.

How can we reconcile the abundance of food, the fellowship of family and guests, the health and power of body and mind, and our joy and good feeling... with the enormous historical fabric of events, with so many tragic threads, that has led to this day?

None of us chooses the circumstance in which we enter this world;

	and so ...	no child is guilty of the sins of the parent;
	but also ...	no child deserves its inheritance.

How are we, then, to properly be thankful on such a day as this?

We pray ...

for this special day, and for all the days You grant me ...

You have given me a canvas on which to paint my contribution to Your picture of the Universe.

Lord, I thank You

for this special meal, and all the meals You grant me ...

You provide me sustenance for my physical life;
You provide me sustenance for my intellectual life;
You provide me sustenance for my life in the society of man;
You provide me sustenance for my life in union with You.

For all the many gifts of sustenance You provide me, O Lord, I am thankful.

for the gift of life itself,

for the opportunity to share in the work of Your continuing creation,

for the opportunity to learn,

for the opportunity to communicate,

for the opportunity to work with others,

for the opportunity to give and to receive,

for the opportunity to change the world ...

the physical world

the social world

and -- myself.

Lord, I remember the teaching:

the only way I can really thank my parents for all they have done for me is to raise my own children well.

I ask of You, Lord, as I give thanks, the grace to see how to make my best contribution to Your creation.

Amen.