A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering:

Coffee in the Morning

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

to thank you for all I have,

for all you've given me,

for what I have in abundance:

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

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 stayed by my side

when moving on was hard
and 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 the most basic gifts:

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

Help me remember

all those who serve and protect me

whose names I don't even 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’ve missed...

Help me remember

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

from your heart to mine,
all to be shared...

Help me remember and never forget

how many are the reasons

I have for thanking you
and praising you
and thanking you 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.