One of my favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 103, especially the opening verses.  Verse 2 reads, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.”  To bless, we must remember! 

But here’s the thing; we’re forgetful people.  Oh, I know we forget why we went down to the basement until we go back upstairs, and we embarrass ourselves by forgetting the names of people we’ve known for years when we run into them unexpectedly, but that’s not what I mean.

I mean we forget how wonderful life is.  We forget how good it is to have people to love, who depend on us.  We forget how powerful we are, how one little word can heal or hurt.  We forget to notice the people and places that encompass us daily.  We forget to look at the faces of our lovers and children.  We forget to breathe in the scent of musty fall woods and the hint of lasting chill that’s on its way.

We forget that we are not the source of all the blessings we take for granted.

This was what Moses warned against when he prepared the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land.  He told them that they would find that land rich and productive; they would be at peace and filled with prosperity.  And he told them this was their greatest danger, because in the prosperity of the Promised Land, they would be tempted to believe that they had done it all themselves. (Deuteronomy 8:7-18)

People are the same now as then.  Today is an opportunity to remember our blessings, but it is more than that.  Today we have an invitation to be grateful for the One who has so abundantly blessed us. 

This is more than just a word to make us humble, to remind us that we have received more than we could ever provide for ourselves.  This is also a word of assurance and an invitation to the peace that comes to those who trust.  Consider the lilies of the field arrayed in glory by the overflowing creative love of God.  Consider all that you treasure, all your blessings.  God has provided all this.  Be at peace.  The blessings that mean the most are not provided by your anxious labor.  They are the gift of God’s extravagant grace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Prayer of Thanksgiving (suitable for a table grace)

Dear Lord:

Today we give thanks for our many blessings as we pray for those in need.

We give thanks for our family and friends as we pray for those who are lonely.

We give thanks for our freedoms as we pray for those who are oppressed.

We give thanks for our good health as we pray for those who are ill.

We give thanks for our comfort and prosperity as we share our blessings with others.

On this day of Thanksgiving, may the love of God enfold us, the peace of God dwell within us, and the joy of God uplift us.

Amen.