For many years, I’ve had a tradition of making monthly cards for various holidays to send to family and friends. It’s a simple way to say “hello” and let them know I’m thinking of them.  It’s also a way to share some of my artistry as the cards are totally unique. Sometimes I put poems inside.  This year for my Thanksgiving card, I found two great poems I’d like to share with you.  There are spiritual overtones in them. Please insert your  spiritual practice and framework into the meaning of the poem.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

By Donna Shilling

Lord, we’d like to thank you on this Thanksgiving Day

               For our many blessings, we bow our heads and pray.

Thank you for our children, our parents and our spouse,

               The blessing of this food, and the shelter of a house.

Thank you for life’s teachers, and those we call our friends,

               All we take for granted, and love that never ends.

Thank you for our memories, and those no longer here,

               Who live within our hearts, who always we’ll hold dear.

Thank you for our country, and freedoms that we share,

               Fearless men and women, and heroes everywhere.

Thank you for the beauty, that fills this world you made,

               Oceans and the heavens, the sunshine and the shade.

Thank you for our talents, no matter big and small,

               Bless us with the knowledge, that one can learn from all.

Thank you for our hardships, and lessons learned from pain,

               No life can ever grow, without your gift of rain.

Thank you for the answers, to prayers we asked of you,

               Help us to remember, that “No’s” an answer too.

Lord, please know we thank you, in each and every way,

               Your loving hand upon us, our hearts are full today.

Thanksgiving Observance

By author unknown

Count your blessings instead of your crosses,

               Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes,

               Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears,

               Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean,

               Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth,

               Count on God instead of yourself.

I think the poems capture the deeper meanings of the holiday.  Both summarize many excellent reasons for “Giving Thanks”. 

Each line provides an opportunity to delve deeply into an aspect of life, remembering and reflecting upon its gifts.  I invite you to spend a few moments slowly reading each line aloud. How many ways can you think of applying the ideas in the line?

Trying that simple exercise can become a jumping off point for developing a daily gratitude practice.  Maybe, use the first two or three minutes each morning right after you wake up to give thanks for the day’s people, places or activities. Or spend a few minutes before sleep to ponder and recap the day and express appreciation for each person, place and experience, especially those that were unexpected or unpleasant.  

Another powerful way to experience these poems more deeply is to journal the ideas of gratitude that come to you during your reflection. Perhaps, create a notebook specifically for that purpose and watch your attitude of gratitude evolve.

Don’t set any limits. An easy starting point is to stand in the middle of a room and express gratitude for each and every item in that room, recalling the circumstances that brought the items to you and how you use them.  As another example, I once spent time giving thanks for my drawing pencils.  I am thankful that they are a marvel of engineering simplicity. A slippery substance, (graphite), encased in a wood tube that is light weight, super convenient and easy to hold for prolonged periods of time.  They are incredibly inexpensive and available everywhere. Some of the greatest thoughts in history have been written or drawn with them. Of course, special thanks was given for the eraser end.  What a fantastic idea!  Make a mistake; erase it and TRY AGAIN! No judgment.

PASS IT FORWARD. Remember how great it feels when someone expresses gratitude to you. Start with simple verbal or written expressions and expand gratitude habits outward to your family, friends and community.

Use your creativity to think of other ways to incorporate gratitude into daily life.  The possibilities are infinite. It can awaken a greater appreciation of everything that touches your life.