Thanking God this Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving Day, Today is a day that we Thank the Lord for all the gifts he had given us. Gifts like life, a home, a family, food to eat, warmth, a coat, and love. These gifts are often taken for granted, so on this Thanksgiving, when you are with family and friends, remember all the gifts you have to be thankful for. 

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

  Walter Rauschenbusch

O God, we thank you for this earth, our home;

For the wide sky and the blessed sun,

For the salt sea and the running water,

For the everlasting hills

And the never-resting winds,

For trees and the common grass underfoot.

We thank you for our senses

By which we hear the songs of birds,

And see the splendor of the summer fields,

And taste of the autumn fruits,

And rejoice in the feel of the snow,

And smell the breath of the spring.

Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty;

And save our souls from being so blind

That we pass unseeing

When even the common thornbush

Is aflame with your glory,

O God our creator,

Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen. 

"And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 3:17

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on all God has given us throughout the year. We should thank Him for having a roof over our heads, the food we eat, our clothing, and for all the blessings He has given us. During Thanksgiving, we get distracted by cooking the turkey and all the trimmings, and the festivities. These distractions usually prevent us from taking the time to thank God. St. Teresa of Avila said, “In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things, give Him thanks.” One way we can show our appreciation to God is by taking the time to go to Mass on Thanksgiving. “The Mass is the holiest act of religion. You cannot do anything to glorify God more, nor profit your soul  more, than by devoutly assisting at it, and assisting as often as possible," said St. Peter Julian Eymard. Another way we can show our thankfulness is by reliving Thanksgiving every day. During Thanksgiving, everyone in our family states what we are thankful for throughout the year. We can follow this tradition every day before our meals to show our gratitude to God. St. Mother Teresa offers us another way to give thanksgiving to God.  She said, “The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.” Accepting all the comes with joy may seem difficult, but with the grace of God, anything is possible.  Let us pray that this Thanksgiving day we can resolve to strive to thank God, every day for His blessings.

Ta, Ta for now!