A Thanksgiving thank you!

      A busy Thanksgiving day ahead of us--cakes to be baked, dog to be walked, breakfast to be prepared, a few more loads of laundry to be washed, house to be tidied, children's clothes to be readied, miles to be driven, food to be savored, family to be loved and enjoyed...Lord to be thanked and praised and glorified.
       "When thou hast thanked they God
         For every blessing sent,
        What time will then remain
        for murmurs or lament?" (R.C. Trench)
     So thank You, Father, for this day to rejoice in Your goodness and greatness in our lives.  Thank You for the priceless gifts of family and friends.  Thank You for the joy, laughter, love, wisdom, richness, purpose, and even sometimes pain (that is also, ultimately, a gift from You) that those precious relationships bring to our lives.
      Thank You for our nation, for our freedom--even as we know there is much hurt, anger, and confusion in our country today.  But Lord, we place our trust in You for reconciliation, revival, renewal.  You are the Greater Physician and Healer, not just of bodies but of hearts and spirits.  So we ask for Your mighty healing...of our nation and of our friends struggling with diseases and addictions.  You are able, Lord. You are infinitely able (Eph.3:20).
      Thank You for home and the gift of "place" as Eudora Welty once put it.  A place where we belong, a place where we can sink our roots down deep...maybe not a perfect place, but the place where You, in Your grace, have sovereignly positioned us to be a part of a community and family that we might nourish, love, and encourage one another.  All by Your grace.  All to Your glory.
      Thank You for the daily graces in our lives--hot tea, warm fires, good books, hearty laughter, autumn leaves, long conversations, moments of peace in the midst of busy days, good medicine, kind words, big hugs, bouncing babies, bracing walks, and Your beautiful Word.
      Thank You for pilgrims and patriots and soldiers and the priceless gift of freedom their sacrifices have given everyone of us. Thank You for all those men and women serving our nation right now in places far and near.  Oh bless them this day, Lord. How we thank You for them.
     And most of all, thank You for Your Son.  Our Redeemer...Sustainer...Bread of Life...Living Water...Door...Good Shepherd...Hope...Emmanuel.  "God with us"--everyday, every night, forever. And soon we begin the celebration of Your coming--Advent.  Remind us afresh of the wonder and the awe of God's Son becoming a man so that men could become sons of God.
      G.K. Chesterton wrote: "Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."  So thank You, Father.  Thank You, thank You, thank You!
      To God be the glory.