Now that you’ve had some time to pull your own ideas and thoughts together using the tips from our last blog post, we thought we’d share with you some favorite traditional prayers and inspirational poems that you may like to lead with, or combine with your own expression of thanks.
Remember, gratitude in and of itself is a beautiful thing and there is no right or wrong way to speak about it. Simply relax and speak from your heart, and enjoy the opportunity to let those around you know how thankful you are that you’re all together for Thanksgiving.
Poems, Graces and Prayers:
- Bless us, O Lord
and these Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive from your bounty.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen. - Bless this home
with love and cheer,
And bless all those
who gather here. - Thank you for the day so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you, Lord, for everything! - Every so often, we all need a day to stop everything we’re so busy doing
and simply be. A day to turn off all the noise and step outside to breathe
in the air, and to know we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
A day to realize the richness of our blessings, the miracles we are,
the wonder that is our lives, the gratitude in our hearts. - With a prayer that this beautiful season
gives us many new reasons
to rejoice and thank the Lord. - Thanksgiving is a time of awareness,
of caring and sharing —remembering the best,
seeing the beautiful,
being grateful for the fullness of life.
Chinese Proverb
When you eat, remember the farmer.
From the Poem i thank You God
by E. E. cummings
i thank You God for most this amazing
day…for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
Servant’s Heart
Dear Lord, thank you for this gift of food
You’ve placed upon our table.
And help us all to do your work
In any way we’re able.
Serving Food by Thich Nhat Hanh
In this food, I see clearly
The presence of the universe
Supporting my existence.
Grace
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
We offer thanks. Amen.
A Blessing based on Gandhi’s Principles
Oh God, bless this food we are about to receive.
Give bread to those who hunger; and hunger for justice to us who have bread.
Shortest Grace by Dag Hammarskjöld
For what has been—thanks! For what shall be—yes!
