Thanksgiving...A time of Praise.

Hello, you dear friends, family, and visitors....Happy Thanksgiving to you all! This year, I am not going to ramble on about the Pilgrims, the real first Thanksgiving, the holiday which happened before the Pilgrims ever arrived in Plymouth, or about our fall weather, that is so uncharacteristically beautiful, or how I am missing my sister and grandparents so much right now. No. I am going to post one written prayer that very adequately describes my whole and complete view upon the Day of Thanksgiving. I challenge you to ponder it, to joy in the gift of a merciful and gracious Savior, by which we are saved from our sins, to praise His most Holy and righteous Name, to give thanks unto Him Who keeps us standing and going on, day after day, after day. I challenge you today, among all the incredibly delicious foods we all will eat, and people we will talk with...that after that prayer over the meal - don't stop praying or stop thanking the Lord Who provides for you.
With love and thanksgiving to our Lord,
Jean Marie

A prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving, from The Valley of Vision-

“O My God, Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee,
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless Thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me
for preserving its strength and vigor,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love Thee above the powers of language to express,
For what Thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.”