As we gather for this Thanksgiving dinner, we count our blessings, one by one. And
as the list of good things which thou hast given us grows longer and longer, we realize
how little appreciation we have expressed for this thy bounty.
For redwoods, white plains, and the wild blue yonder, for Yellowstone and brownstones, for
evergreen trees and orange groves, for little pink houses and purple mountain majesties,
for every divinely painted acre of this sweet land of liberty, we give thee praise.
For Idaho potatoes, and Texas toast, for Washington apples and Hawaiian pineapples, for
Iowa corn and Maryland crab cakes, for Ohio cherries and Florida strawberries, Philly
cheese steaks and New York cheesecakes, for Main lobster and Mississippi mud pie, for
every home cooked meal and home grown harvest, we give thee praise.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, we thank you this day for
Northern Lights and Southern hospitality, for weekends in New England for moonlight over
Miami, for California dreaming, for a New York state of mind, for Okies and Aggies, for
Motown and O-town, for Silicon Valley and the Shenandoah Valley, for the San Fernando
Valley and Valley Forge, for Bunker Hill and the Black Hills, for the Grand Canyon and the
Rio Grande, for Pebble Beach and the Jersey shore.
For Policemen and Firemen, for MDs and EMTs, for Army Rangers, for Navy Seals, for Air
Force cadets, for the Marine Corps Reserves, and for all who serve, we thank them, and we
thank you, O God, our creator and redeemer.
For "Let's roll," for "Take care of the kids," for "I love you,
honey," for "We will not fail," for "United we stand," and for
"Never forget," we offer eternal thanks.
For "E Pluribus Unum," and "Semper Fiedelis," for "God Bless
America," and "In God We Trust," for "We the people," and
"Of the people, for the people," for "Don't tread on me." For
"Give me liberty or give me death," for "These are the times to try men's
souls," for "The land of the free and the home of the brave," we give thee
praise.
For iron will, for steely resolve, for mettle tested and time worn, for uncommon valor
that never sleeps, for steady hands, sturdy legs, broad shoulders, and level heads, for
stiff upper lips, for blood, sweat and tears, for conquering our fears, and for unbending
courage in the face of the unknown, we give thee praise.
O Father,
we come to thee on this national day to join with heart and voice all the people of our
blessed land to honor and thank thee. We ask you, Lord, as our forefathers did in
times of strife, "to inspire our instruments, under the providence of Almighty God,
to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings: Independence and
Peace."
For
precious life itself in this great nation - under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all - we thank thee, O father.
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