The German theologian and Philosopher of many centuries ago, Meister Echart, once shared, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
Maybe our thanksgiving celebration, our giving thanks on this special day of the year, is meant to remind us that thanks and prayer, go hand in hand today and every day of the year.
+ As we give thanks for the place we call home, may it lead us to pray for those who are homeless…
+ As we give thanks for the people we call family and friends, may it lead us to pray for those who have no family and no friends.
+ As we give thanks for the food on our tables, may it lead us to pray for those who hunger around our world.
+ As we give thanks for the freedoms we have, may it lead us to pray for those who are away from home, serving our nation in the Military.
+ As we give thanks for the gift of faith, may it lead us to pray that we will truly live that faith, daily.
+ As we give thanks for all we have, may it lead us to pray for all who do not have even the basics of life.
What is it that we as person, family, church and country are thankful for this Thanksgiving 2018 that will lead us to prayer…
But, it goes without saying that our thanks and prayer need to lead us to continuing works of God and goodness daily…
Of course our ultimate Thanksgiving is what we do here tonight, and every weekend… Gather around this table to give thanks to God, to pray and then to go out into the world to bring the Good News of the Gospel to others in and thru the lives we live daily.
Finally, let me close with a quote from the late philosopher, Johnny Carson, “Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.”
Just kidding… Enjoy the moments and give thanks!