Dear God,
We find ourselves in the season of turkey dinners, football games, sweater weather, and requests to share what we are thankful for. We are implored to be thankful; gratitude is the season’s theme.
But what if we are not feeling it? What if the weight of the world feels too heavy for platitudes of gratitude?
What do we do with the things we are not grateful for, that we wish were different? That list can feel longer than our list of thanks.
How do we give thanks around our tables, knowing there are many with no table to join?
How do we share thanks together, when our differences feel so painful, and the hurt feels too deep?
How do we gratitude-journal our way out of this?
This Thanksgiving, grant us imagination, compassion and safe spaces.
Maybe gratitude is not just noticing what we have, but envisioning what could be.
Maybe giving thanks is not a sign of our piety, but our longing for wholeness.
Maybe gratitude can be a call not only to notice but to act.
When we give thanks for our families, may we welcome those with no family.
When we find splendor in the fall colors, may we work to protect the earth.
When we graze over lengthy meals, may we care for those who are hungry.
May our gratitude be more than lip service to righteousness.
May our thanksgiving widen God’s table of grace.
Amen.
