A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 11/23

Coffee in the Morning

Good morning, good God!

Thanksgiving's just a few days away, Lord,
and I want to be ready on Thursday

to thank you for all I have,

especially what I have in abundance,

all from your generous hands:

I want to remember the ways you've helped me
since last Thanksgiving,

just a year ago...

Help me remember, Lord,

all the times when your strength,
not my own,

got me through the really rough patches...

Help me remember

how, in your faithful love,

you never left me alone...

Help me remember

the gift of your mercy and forgiveness

each and every time I strayed from your grace...

Help me remember

how every time I prayed

you were there to hear me...

Help me remember

how I survived and moved on

past things I thought I’d never get by…

Help me remember

how you were always there to help me

when taking one more step
really seemed impossible...

Help me remember, Lord,

the people who love and care for me:

family and friends, at work and at school
and in my parish...

Help me remember as gifts

the things I often feel entitled to:

good food and clean water, warm clothing, a place to live,
safety, liberty and freedom...

Help me remember, Lord,

especially in these pandemic days,

all who serve, protect and care for me,

whose names I do not know...

Help me remember and be grateful for

my vision, my hearing, my sense of touch

and all the good and beautiful things I experience
through my senses...

Help me remember

what I take for granted

and open my eyes
to blessing and gifts

I haven't used - or have totally missed...

Help me remember

that every good gift comes from you, my God:
from your hand to mine,

from your heart to mine
- and all to be shared with others...

Help me remember and never forget

how many are the reasons

I have for thanking you
and praising you and thanking you

again and again and again...

Help me remember this Thursday, Lord,
between the turkey and the football games,
help me remember to thank you
for all the blessings I count as mine...

This morning, Lord, and every day this week
I offer you my thanks and praise,
O loving God, from whom all blessings flow...

Amen.