“Trials and suffering can actually refine and deepen gratefulness if we allow them to show us not to take things for granted. Our national holiday of gratitude, Thanksgiving, was born and grew out of hard times. The first Thanksgiving took place after nearly half the pilgrims died from a rough winter and year. It became a national holiday in 1863 in the middle of the Civil War and was moved to its current date in the 1930s following the Depression.” (“How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times” by Robert Emmons)
A Thanksgiving Prayer
by Helen Steiner Rice
Thank You, God, for everything …
The big things and the small,
For “every good gift comes from God” …
The Giver of them all.
And all too often we accept
Without any thanks or praise,
The gifts You send as blessings
Each day in many ways.
And so at this Thanksgiving time,
We offer up a prayer;
To thank You, God, for giving us
A lot more than our share.
First, thank You for the little things
That often come our way;
The things we take for granted
And don’t mention when we pray.
The unexpected courtesy,
The thoughtful, kindly deed,
A hand reached out to help us …
In the time of sudden need.
Oh, make us more aware, dear God,
Of little daily graces,
That come to us with “sweet surprise,”
From never-dreamed-of places.
Then, thank You for the “miracles”
We are much too blind to see,
And give us new awareness
Of our many gifts from Thee.
And help us to remember
That the “key” to “life” and “living,”
Is to make each prayer a “prayer of thanks,”
And every day THANKSGIVING.
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above;
it comes down from the Father of lights
[the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens],
in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting]
or shadow cast by His turning
[for He is perfect and never changes].”
James 1:17
Perhaps because of difficult circumstances, troubles, or losses, you’re having a hard time feeling thankful at all. Maybe your cry is, “Why, God? Where are You? Do You even care about me?”
Yes, Jesus cares. Deeply. He knows what you’re going through. He understands you better than anyone ever can or will. He cries with you. He opens His arms wide and longs for you to rest in His love for you.
Does Jesus Care?
“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press,
And the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
O yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary,
The long night dreary,
I know my Savior cares.”
Freed to Fly 
Thanksgiving blessings to you, to yours, friend …
I’m grateful for all you bring to the online conversations we share.
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Thank you, Linda! I’m so grateful for all you bring as well. The soothing balm of your understanding and compassion have often encouraged and strengthened my heart. May God be with your family in a special way this Thanksgiving and fill your aching hearts with His love! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy! Such a lovely study on the need and joy of thanking the Lord. Of course, this year has brought events that have been hard to be thankful for, but I know that they are, they’re just wrapped in different coverings.
I do thank God for his gifts in this season, and one of them is knowing you through our blogs. It’s been great to accompany you through this year, and I hope we’ll continue to do that in the next. May God bless you abundantly with his peace and joy in this holiday week.
Ceil
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Thank you, Ceil! I thank God for you and your blog, too! Yes, there certainly are things that are hard to be thankful for. I like how you describe these things as gifts “wrapped in different coverings.” It makes me think of Romans 8:28, so thank you for that. In the AMP version – “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” It’s such a comforting promise, isn’t it? May God abundantly bless you, too, and give you special peace this Thanksgiving as I’m sure there will be an ache as you miss your dad. Hugs!
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Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration Trudy! Ours has already passed, but am always so grateful that my American friends sharing their gratefulness reminders during this season.
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Thank you, Lynn! I had forgotten you are Canadian. 🙂 I am striving for an attitude of gratitude each day of the year. It’s so hard though, isn’t it? It’s so easy to slip into discontentment. I am grateful for you and your posts! You have encouraged me so much in this year. May God give us grace to live thankfulness! Hugs!
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Dear Trudy, Oh what a sweet reminder your words brought this morning. My Mom and my Grandma both loved Helen Steiner Rice, and it was such a blessing to be thinking of them through words of gratefulness. And the hymn is a steadfast reminder also, to trust in His ever present caring. I’m thankful for you, Trudy, and the blessing that you have been to me this year. I had no idea the beautiful connections that God had in mind when He asked me to join in this Digital Community! May you be blessed with a Wonderful and Uplifting Thanksgiving! Love & Hugs!
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Thank you, Bettie! I’m so glad you were sweetly reminded of your mom and grandma. Helen has such beautiful poems, and it’s been a long time since I’ve looked any up. I’m thankful for you, too! I have been blessed through your blog and comments. I, too, am overwhelmed at God’s goodness in this online community. I started this blog with the purpose of encouraging others, and I ended up being encouraged. God has used you and others to help me to heal more deeply. I know how busy days can drain you, but I pray God will give you extra strength and unexpected surprises of His love this Thanksgiving! Hugs!
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I love the quote and the poem. It is important to focus on the many things we have to be thankful for, and I agree that sometimes trials can sharpen that focus and help us appreciate the many good things we have. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Lesley. My online friend from Scotland. 🙂 Yes, trials can sharpen that focus on what we have to be thankful. Sometimes we don’t realize what we have until we don’t have it anymore. May God give us a deep appreciation for all He has given us for this time and for eternity! Hugs!
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This is so lovely! I’m Canadian and so Thanksgiving has already happened here, but you are absolutely right, giving thanks should be a daily practice. Beautiful poem- thanks for sharing! Stopping by from #MomentsofHope Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Laura! May we make giving thanks a daily practice, even when troubles surround us! Hugs!
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God is always wanting to teach us something in tough times, even if it is as simple as counting blessings while we fix our eyes and heart on Him. Thankful for truth in your words and poems.
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Thank you, Coleene. It’s hard to realize it when we’re drowning in those hard times, isn’t it. But in hindsight we can see how much He has grown us. And I think we learn to open our eyes more to the blessings around us. May we daily fix our eyes and hearts on Him, the Giver of all good things! Hugs!
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Beautiful words here, Trudy. Thanks for sharing things that can help us keep a good, healthy perspective. I really appreciated these words:
Yes, Jesus cares. Deeply. He knows what you’re going through. He understands you better than anyone ever can or will. He cries with you. He opens His arms wide and longs for you to rest in His love for you.”
Good reminders when it’s easier to see the hard than the hope.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Jeanne. Yes, I feel it with you. It is so much “easier to see the hard than the hope.” May God help us to cling to His hope even when it’s hard! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too! Hugs!
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Dear Trudy, trying to navigate the post on my phone. I thought I was a bit more savy …. Happy Thanksgiving to you. The comment you left on my blog about my granddaughter brought tears of rememberance to my eyes. Thank you for reminding me of my gratitude. Sent it to my kids too. Your post is such a reminder to give thanks.
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Hi Anita! I see you figured out how to comment here. 🙂 Welcome! I really was amazed at what happened with your granddaughter. It made me feel not only thankful for her, but also for the gift of hearing and other senses I have that I too often take for granted. I’m also thankful for the advanced technology that gave the wonderful gift of hearing to her and others. I’m thankful, too, for the nature photos you share. They fill me with calmness and help me to rest in God who is in control over all. So thank you! I hope you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving! Hugs!
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Such a beautiful prayer, Trudy! Thank you for sharing. Blessings on your holiday!
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Blessings to you, too, June! I love how Helen draws our attention to the “small” things, don’t you? There are so many things in our everyday ordinary that we take for granted, don’t we? May we learn ever more deeply to have an attitude of gratitude! Hugs!
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What a beautiful, encouraging reminder of just how much our Saviour cares! I love the quote and poem. Both spoke to me greatly. Thank YOU for caring and sharing such beautiful thoughts here, Trudy, to help lift the hearts of your readers. God bless you, dear friend, as you celebrate Thanksgiving! I am thankful for you. xo
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Thank you, Joy. I’m so glad your heart was lifted. I am thankful for you, too! Today is kind of quiet as we usually have our Thanksgiving meal with our kids and grandkids on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so they can go to the other side of their family on the day. Please pray God will give me extra strength for that day. I’m thankful our family helps out with food and cleanup, or I don’t think I could handle it. May we together keep opening our hearts to the beauty of Jesus and His love! Hugs!
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Praying for you, my friend. May you be strengthened enough to enjoy the occasion to the full. Being with family will make it extra special for you too. Take good care of yourself. xo 💜
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Thank you so much, Joy. Having our kids and grandkids around us does bring us so much joy. There are just about 30 of us. 🙂 God bless you! Hugs!
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Beautiful prayer, my friend! Being thankful of the little things – being a noticer of those things – is such a powerful weapon in defending our hope and our joy! I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving!
Much love,
Lori
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Thank you, Lori. I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving as well. I loved that about Helen’s poem, too. To notice and be thankful for those “little” things. Something I so need to work on. 🙂 Yes, it truly is a powerful weapon in defending hope and joy! May we open our eyes more to those everyday blessings that we sometimes take for granted! Hugs!
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