Need a Thanksgiving Prayer

[TupperMom7]

Okay, I know this sounds lame, but I am not used to praying in front of other people and it makes me uncomfortable. My dh is even worse! I looked on-line, trying to find a simple Thanksgiving prayer to say at our dinner. We are having company, well it's family, join us for dinner. But the it's been a difficult year - my sister's husband died last January and my nephew is separated from his wife and will be getting a divorce as soon as possible. I know they still have many things to be thankful for, but I don't want to come off as saying everything is "great" on this day when they will be having some feelings of great loss. Know what I mean? Does anyone have a nice simple Thanksgiving prayer that you say each year?

 

[cabanafrau]

Maybe say something about being grateful for all of your blessings and express gratitude for never being abandoned in life's darkest hours?

 

[clarabelle]

You could sing -the Johnny Apple-seed song
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain and the appleseed;
Oh, the Lord's been good to me.

You can hear the song on you-tube if you don't know it

 

[clarabelle]

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

 

[maroo]

Those are great suggestions.

You may also try to write a prayer...nothing eloquent like the ones above...but just write out what you might want to say. Then you can decide what you like and don't like...and maybe write it on a little notecard.

Here are some phrases that come to my mind...nothing fancy...just the way I may say it.



Thank You for this time we have together as a family.

Thank You for being there this past year when things have been rough for all of us.

Thank You for providing this food to the nourishment of our bodies.


Best of luck to you all. I hope that this year is a better year for all of you. And I admire you for thinking about it ahead of time and trying to plan something that would be sensitive to them.

 

[snykymom]

You could use a variation of the prayers that Jews say at the beginning of a meal:
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine (usually said over wine).
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, from whom all good things flow.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Dear Lord, thank you for this food, and all the good things thou has given us;
May we use thy gifts for thy service. Amen.

I have no idea where it originally came from; it was drilled into me as a child and I pull it out every time I go blank

 

[kimblebee]

For as long as I can remember ours has been

Thank You for the world so sweet
Thank You for the food we eat
Thank You for the birds that sing
Thank You God for everything
Amen

 

[John VN]

Okay, I know this sounds lame, but I am not used to praying in front of other people and it makes me uncomfortable. My dh is even worse! I looked on-line, trying to find a simple Thanksgiving prayer to say at our dinner. We are having company, well it's family, join us for dinner. But the it's been a difficult year - my sister's husband died last January and my nephew is separated from his wife and will be getting a divorce as soon as possible. I know they still have many things to be thankful for, but I don't want to come off as saying everything is "great" on this day when they will be having some feelings of great loss. Know what I mean? Does anyone have a nice simple Thanksgiving prayer that you say each year?

You have already said it....

Thank you for being here to celebrate this dinner with us.

I love you all.

Now let's chow down!

Gee, I think I have to get to bed, I have to get up in 3 hours!

 

[Disneyluvr]

Here's my go to prayer:

Bless us O Lord and these, thy gifts
Which we are about to recieve
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen