Lord, so often times, as any other day When we sit down to our meal and pray We hurry along and make fast the blessing Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing We're slaves to the olfactory overload We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for For my family, my health, a nice soft bed My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided And bless each and every person invited. Amen! ~Scott Wesemann~ For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped, For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped, For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb, For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land, For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand, For the good that our artists and poets have taught, For the friendship that hope and affection have brought Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! For the homes that with purest affection are blest, For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest, For our country extending from sea unto sea; The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! ~Author Unknown~ We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens his will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine! We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant, And pray that thou still our defender wilt be. Let thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn ~(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)~       © Tina's Prayer Gate November 28, 2013