Thank you, Lord

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;

Once a year, we collectively pause to count our blessings, to offer our thanks to the One who created us, and blesses us with miracles, gifts, and love. Of course, we can not really count our blessings. For if we tried to list them, we would never finish. And the task would be daunting. For as we felt we might be nearing completion of the list, we would realize that upon inspection we had not even begun to scratch the surface of all the things our God has done for us. If we were asked to publish the list, we would be ashamed at is incompleteness, and how it inadequately represents what God has done for us.

who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

Generous and compassionate. Loving and merciful.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us still in grace,
and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills,
in this world and the next.

We think of our children, our parents, our teachers and mentors, our home, our country. We think of not going to bed hungry, and for doctors who keep us well. We think of freedom to worship, and freedom to choose.

But, most of all, we think of a loving God that sent his only begotten Son to love us, teach us, and ultimately redeem us. Not for anything we did, not for anything we could say or be, not for any expectation of reward, but solely out of the gracious love of a creator for his creation.

And for that, we can only say, with tearful eyes and an exuberant heart: Thank you.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given;
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven;

Dear Lord,

Thank you for being
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

We could never repay, or even sufficiently express our gratitude for what you have done for us. Fortunately, we understand that this is not what you expect. We place our faith in you, today and always. Now Thank We All Our God, and pray that our expressions of thanks will be pleasing in your sight.

Amen.