November

            I came across a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving which I want to pass along.  It was composed by a Methodist pastor who served a church in Philadelphia for many years and I think it is one that is very appropriate for the season.  You might want to put it on the refrigerator door and read it again and again as Thanksgiving approaches.

Lord, thank you for each moment,

            for the blue-sky moment,

                        the softening earth, the refreshing wind,

            for the sap flowing,

                        the bird nesting, the yellow bush,

            for my full heart

                        and the joy rising in me.

Soften me

            to receive whatever comes as a gift

                        and to praise you in it.

Lord, thank you for each moment

            for the twilight moment,

                        the pause, the good tired,

            for the quiet reflection,

                        the slowing down, the mysterious sunset,

            for contented heart

                        and the wisdom growing inside me.

Gentle me

            to feel whatever comes as a gift

                        and to praise you in it.

Lord, thank you for each moment,

            for the midnight moment,

                        the loneliness, the fretful wondering,

            for the watchful stars,

                        the long ache, the sleepless wait,

            for my restless heart

                        and the hope straining in me.

Focus me

            to see whatever comes as a gift

                        and to praise you in it.

Lord, thank you for each moment,

            for the high-noon moment,

                        the job, the necessary routine,

            for the sweaty struggle,

                        the high-risk challenge, the impulse to change,

            for my fierce heart

                        and the courage gathering in me.

Ground me

            to wrestle with whatever comes as a gift

                        and to praise you in it.

Lord, thank you for each moment,

            for the shared moment,

                        the listening, the unguarded word,

            for the fragile openness,

                        the ready smile, the accepted difference,

            for my passionate heart

                        and the trust rooting in me.

Stretch me

            to grow with whatever comes as a gift

                        and to praise you in it.

Lord, thank you for each moment,

            for the charged moment,

                        the confrontation, the accurate demand,

            for the hard decision,

                        the breathless gamble, the unexpected growing,

            for my intense heart

                        and the truth expanding in me.

Excite me

            to be open to whatever comes as a gift

                        and to praise you in it.

Lord, thank you for each moment,

            for the holy moment,

                        the music, the child's eyes,

            for the sunlight,

                        the touch, the tears,

            for the trembling pleasure,

                        the unutterable beauty, the breathing,

            for the life and love and heart in me aware,

                        and the wholeness spreading in me.

Touch me

            through whatever comes as a gift

                        that I may be grateful

                                    and praise you in it all.