God, we thank you for all you have done. You are the giver of the soil, the rain, the harvests, the lilies of the field (how they grow!), the birds of the air. You are the giver of music and laughter. You are the giver of our families, our friends, our neighbors far and wide. You are the giver of all we need for joy and life.
God, you gave us your own Self in Jesus Christ. You make it possible for humanity to come together across the boundaries we’ve made, so we can care for one another and find surprising grace and heal. You give us forgiveness, mercy. You give us strength. You give us hope.
And so we give you thanks, O God of Love, for …
… cool breezes after a long summer.
… hummingbirds that suddenly hover by our heads, blessing us with their iridescent presence.
… people who delight us, teaching us the joy of living.
… people who annoy us, teaching us what our feelings of anger reveal about ourselves (how we grow!).
… the sound of rain on the roof.
… mountains that turn purple and pink with the setting sun.
… (What do you thank God for, O Reader?)
And we thank you, O God, most especially for your Self, our rock and redeemer, our strength and our song.
To you be all our praise.
Amen
— Pastor Annemarie Burke
Photo by Jeffrey Hamilton on unsplash