"Dear Heavenly
Father, I'm grateful for so many things and on this special day I want to take
some time to tell you what I'm thankful for:
I'm grateful for the gift of life. Without you I wouldn't be here. Without you
nothing would be here. Without you nothing would be at all.
I'm grateful for my parents. Even if
they weren't perfect, or completely functional, they loved me the best they
could, and they worked hard to make sure that I had enough to eat, that I was
clothed and that I had a place to sleep. I'll never know all that they did for
me, like the things they did for me when I was a baby or not paying attention
or too selfish to notice. Please help me
to be a grateful child and encourage me with the hope that I will see them
again in your company, where I'll be able to say thank you over and over again.
I'm grateful for my friends. Dear Father you show your love for me through my
friends in ways that I sometimes overlook. They give me advice, they listen to
my pain, they celebrate with me, they help me laugh and they care about me. Please help me to be a good friend in return.
I'm grateful for my family. Yes; I know that all families are comprised of
different kinds of people. But I'm thankful that, even with their uniqueness,
I'm part of a family that has helped to make me the person I am. I know that
they love me. Help me to be a good and loving family member who helps others in
my family when and where I can.
I'm grateful
for my work and calling in life, dear God. It's not always a bed of roses, but
I praise you that I have a sense of your purpose for my life. Help me to
remember that all work done with excellence and purpose out of a loving heart
is worthy in your site. And please help me to be a blessing to everyone with
whom I come in contact. Help them to
know that I am your follower and that they can count on me.
I'm grateful, God, for all the things that I know many people in this world
don't have. I'm grateful for food and clean water that is easily available and
clothes and heat in the winter and air conditioning and screens in the summer.
I'm grateful that I can go to the doctor and get a check up and medicine and
other treatment to preserve my health. Help me to be grateful, and help me
remember that I can help those who have less by being generous as one small way
of thanking you.
I appreciate all the things you created.
I’m grateful for the color of orange autumn leaves against the deep blue
sky, for the smell of the sidewalk after a thunderstorm on a hot summer
afternoon, for the way that the frost makes awesome patterns on windows in the
winter, for the amazing sight and smell of flowers in the springtime. I'm also grateful for the beach, the
mountains and sunsets and my favorite foods and so many other things that I
easily take for granted.
Most of all, dear Father, I'm grateful for your presence in my life and if I
remember to pay attention I can see your invitation to meet you in every moment
of the day. I know that it is you who turns my mind to thoughts of gratitude. And
when I'm tempted to focus only on my problems and worries and fears; thank you
for reminding me of your love and care for me as an individual.
I know that
I'm not always as thankful as I should be, but today I am. Today I will try to
be grateful all day, since you are generous all day long, every day, to me.
And lastly,
I thank you for Jesus, my Savior and your one-and-only son, who you gave to
bring me back into your ‘forever’ family.
May I serve him with all the strength you give me until you come to take
me home or I go to be with you in eternity. Amen and hallelujah."
My version of a prayer originally published in America Magazine
