Unfeignedly Thankful

A General Thanksgiving

 

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you most humble and hearty thanks

for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all people;

We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your inestimable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,

for the means of grace,

and for the hope of glory.

And we beseech you, give us that due sense of all your mercies,

that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,

and that we show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives;

by giving up ourselves to your service,

and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom with you and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory,

world without end. Amen.

 

The Book of Common Prayer
 

As we enter this Thanksgiving Day, I am reflecting on all of the many things for which I am thankful.  I am blessed beyond measure and have so much to be thankful for, yet I forget and I can certainly take these blessings for granted.

In recent years, as I recite this lovely prayer my ears take notice of the phrase, "unfeignedly thankful."  I pause and recall all the many things for which I am genuinely thankful.  While it may seem cliche, I am thankful for so much and recognize that these blessings could be taken away in an instant.  I am thankful for the here and the now but also for those who came before who helped shape who I am today.  I aspire to have a grateful heart and to be content in all circumstances ~ to remember all of the blessings of this life and to be thankful for the moment.