Thanksgiving

by Gene Shelburne

It’s a great season, Lord, if you’re not a turkey.

                        It’s a time for families to gather and renew their love,

                                    a time for food and football and festivity and fun,

                                                            a time when grumbles give way to gratitude, and even

                                                                        sourpusses smile.

                        It’s a time when people of faith bow before You, Lord,

                                                to say thank you for the countless ways You have

                                                blessed our world.

 

As a city, Lord, we have so much to be thankful for.

                        While the bulk of the world does without them, we take for

                                                granted clean water and safe streets and stores filled

                                                with food.

                        While people in too many places dodge bullets and bombs,

                                                we enjoy the luxury of peace.

                        In a world where most governments run on graft and bribes,

                                                we live in a town run by honest men and women, a town

                                                where corruption is the exception, not the expectation.

Thank You, Lord, for a city where things work because people care.

 

It’s Thanksgiving time, Lord, and our list of things to be thankful for

                                                is almost endless. Not least on our list are our leaders.

                        Thank You for their gentle and willing spirits.

May their sacrifices for our city be repaid by Your grace.

Be with us in this meeting, Lord.

                        May our words and actions reflect the gratitude of our hearts.

                                                Amen.