Thanksgiving Day is a week away but it’s not too early to begin to recollect all the people and gifts and blessings we’re grateful for…
Lord,
before I bake a pie, stuff a turkey
before I bake a pie, stuff a turkey
or set a table,
I want to take some time to ponder
all my reasons to be grateful…
I want to take some time to ponder
all my reasons to be grateful…
Help me remember, by name,
the most important people in my life:
the people I depend for so many things,
the people who support me,
who comfort and console me,
and the people who challenge me…
Help me remember, by name,
the folks who help me make it day to day
and week by week,
and week by week,
and month by month
and year by year
– always one day at a time…
– always one day at a time…
Help me remember, by name,
the people who befriend me,
who cherish, love and care for me…
And help me remember, by name, Lord,
the folks whom I call my friends,
the ones I love and care for,
those whom I cherish as undeserved gifts,
delivered from your heart to mine…
And help me remember, one by one,
all the gifts I have, Lord:
the gifts of faith and hope and love,
the gifts of wonder, laughter and tears,
the gifts of shelter, water and food,
the gifts of peace and quiet,
all the gifts I have, Lord:
the gifts of faith and hope and love,
the gifts of wonder, laughter and tears,
the gifts of shelter, water and food,
the gifts of peace and quiet,
the gift of reading your Word,
the gift of knowing that I’m your own,
and the gift and grace and the peace of prayer…
Help me remember my talents,
my gifts and my skills, Lord;
the ones I use day in and day out
and the ones I hide from my neighbors,
the ones I use day in and day out
and the ones I hide from my neighbors,
and the gifts I must learn to share…
Help me remember and be grateful, Lord,
for what I often take for granted:
the freedom my nation enjoys,
the right to speak and write what I think,
and the opportunity to seek
the freedom my nation enjoys,
the right to speak and write what I think,
and the opportunity to seek
my heart’s desire
and to go wherever you call me…
and to go wherever you call me…
And help me remember, Lord,
what I should be grateful for
but have forgotten over so many years;
help me remember what I take for granted
and help me give you thanks
in song, in prayer, in praise…
Help me remember all these, Lord,
one by one,
name by name,
gift by gift
so that on Thanksgiving Day
so that on Thanksgiving Day
I’ll have plenty of reasons
to bow my head and whisper,
« Thank you, Lord my God! »
« Thank you, Lord my God! »
Protect me, Lord, while I’m awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
This is an interesting song about gratitude. I chose this recording for two reasons: first, it’s the acoustic version and the simplicity lends itself to the theme; and second, it opens with Brandon Lake’s thoughts on gratitude…
All my words fall shortI got nothing newHow could I expressAll my gratitude?
I could sing these songsAs I often doBut every song must endAnd You never do
So I throw up my handsAnd praise You again and again‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujahHallelujah
And I know it’s not muchBut I’ve nothing else fit for a KingExcept for a heart singing hallelujahHallelujah
I’ve got one responseI’ve got just one moveWith my arms stretched wideI will worship You
So I throw up my handsAnd praise You again and again‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujahHallelujah
And I know it’s not muchBut I’ve nothing else fit for a KingExcept for a heart singing hallelujahHallelujah
So come on, my soulOh, don’t you get shy on meLift up your song‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungsGet up and praise the Lord
(repeat)
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
So I throw up my handsPraise You again and again
With all that I have
Singing hallelujahHallelujahAnd I know it’s not muchBut I’ve nothing else fit for my KingExcept for a heart singing hallelujahHallelujah
