For what we are about to receive,
may the Lord make us truly thankful.
We pray today for all who are too jealous to be thankful,
who complain, “Why do they get everything?”
and who are always comparing themselves with those who have more.
We pray for all who have forgotten how to say thank you;
who have gotten used to saying, “I earned this,”
and who truly feel they have only themselves to thank.
We pray for all who are too busy to be thankful;
who asked themselves this morning, “Do I have time to go to church?”
and who even in worship are thinking about their to-do lists.
We pray for all who are grudgingly thankful;
who say, “I guess this will have to do,”
while believing that God has given them a raw deal.
We pray for all who are too tired to be thankful,
who sigh, “I just want to get through this day,”
and who have no energy to open their eyes to the blessings around them.
We pray for all who are not thankful enough to be generous,
who bargain with God, “I’ll be unselfish when you give me more,”
or who are stingy in spending time with others.
We pray for all who are barely thankful;
who say the words, but don’t feel grateful in their hearts
who go through the motions, but think,
“I don’t know how to be really thankful.”
Today we pray a simple prayer.
For what we have received, Lord,
make us truly thankful. Amen.
I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.