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Writer's pictureJon Lavelle

Writing and Praying Our Own Litany of Thanksgiving

Psalm 92

A Song for the Sabbath Day.

1  It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;


There is great wisdom in the Holy Scriptures, the religious life and disciplines of

our spiritual forbears, the people of Israel.


2  to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

    and your faithfulness by night,

3  to the music of the lute and the harp,

    to the melody of the lyre.

4  For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

    at the works of your hands I sing for joy...


I woke up early one January morning in my little bedroom. It was freezing

outside. The wind was blowing and it was snowing. The furnace kicked on and I

stayed under the blankets and prayed:

Thank You God that I have a warm, secure place to sleep. Thank You God for

this bedroom I have this morning.


The previous weekend I was with the church giving meals outdoors to the

homeless. It was freezing and the folks with no homes that day were so grateful

that there was a warm meal ready eat.


One of the men had just been released from hospital. He was barefoot and I just

couldn’t believe how cold it was. One of the other men quickly produced a new

pair of white sneakers. I was surprised, and I my emotions and spirit were moved.

This little community was looking after one another as Jesus teaches us to do.


My own little morning Litany of Thanksgiving took on a greater significance.

Thank You God for these shoes.

Thank You God for this warm secure place to sleep.

Thank You for my mother and father.


Thank you for my wife, Karen.

Thank you for my son, John, and my daughter Carol.

Thank you for Willie the dog.

Thank you for Jesus who teaches us to love one another.


Again, the Psalmist proclaims:

1  It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

2  to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

    and your faithfulness by night,



There is such great wisdom in the religious practices of our spiritual forbears the

Israelites:

Today we learn from the field of Positive Psychology that being thankful,

cultivating an attitude of gratitude, focusing on the positive, and cultivating

meaningful relationships lessens depression, slows the aging process, and increases

natural dopamine.


As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s create our own litany of Thanksgiving.

Oh God. Thank you for the beauty of your creation and for the bounty we have

today.


Thank you for the beautiful sanctuaries of our churches where we can worship and

celebrate the Lord’s Supper.


Thank you for the generosity of the people of this Parish.

Thank you for the love and care shown to our neighbours through the Foodbank.

Thank you for sending Jesus to create this beloved community.


Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

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