Dear Lord,

On this day of thanks giving as we are gathered here together as a family in your presence. We are grateful to be here on this beautiful earth with this bounty of plenty before us. You have graced our table with the outpourings of your love and benevolence through the nourishing food before us, the life-giving and pleasurable wine we drink and toast with, and the uniquely beautiful persons sitting beside us who share in the joys and sorrows of our lives. As we gather here in celebration of life and family let us remember loved ones not here with us this year whether they be gathered elsewhere or have passed on before us into your kingdom. Let us remember the people whose hands have toiled and labored to provide us with constant influx of nourishment. Let us remember others who will not be gathered around tables with their families this year as they faithfully serve our country overseas. Let us remember and lift up to you their safety and those whom are lonely, feeling unloved, homeless and unfed today. We remember that these gifts you have bestowed upon us are also our responsibility and that we too are stewards of this good earth and that we are called to share our gifts, our love with others. We take this task seriously and give you thanks for giving us life, nourishment, family, friends, love and also the ability to transform the lives of others through these gifts. Thank you Lord for gracing our table with your presence. Amen.

Reflection

This Thanksgiving I’ll be with my boyfriend’s family rather than my own. They have welcomed me into their family and I hope to be an official member one day, however, as two families, two identities come together some clashes occur occasionally. I wanted to share a prayer with them that would unite all of us together. They have their family, their core family unit of the four of them. Then there is another family unit of his sister and her husband. And another family unit subset of my boyfriend and I. We are all united yet all different also, coming together as one family. I want to bring lightness, hope, joy and love to the presence of our gathering on Thanksgiving day. While bringing these elements to form our family, I also am conscious of those around me in various predicaments and stages of life. I am also aware of how I have been blessed and that this has a double meaning, for blessing brings responsibility too. I hope my Thanksgiving prayer will be well-received by his family and have the atmospheric impact I hope for.