Song of Thanksgiving

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above ye Heavenly hosts;

Praise Faither, Son and Holy Ghost.

When our two children were young we usually travelled from our homes somewhere in Oregon to join my parents for Thanksgiving. Each year we joined hands around the table as my dear father led us in a prayer of thanks for God's rich blessings to us. Dad never prayed short prayers and he didn't pray quietly! We always held hands around the table as we prayed together. One Thanksgiving Day when our kids were in their early teen years we sat down, held hands, bowed our heads and waited for Dad to pray. He began to sing the song above - the Doxology. Most of us joined him. I realized our children were not particating - and they knew this song of praise. So I opened one eye to see what they were doing across the table from my sweetheart and I. They sat staring at me with questioning looks on their faces. Our daughter whispered, "Isn't Grandpa going to pray?" I whispered back, "That's what he's doing!" When he said Amen he immediately began to serve the turkey and our time at the table began. Our children learned a valuable lesson that day - we can pray in unexpected ways. It's the words coming from our heart and our attitude of thanksgiving that matters. They've never forgotten it! May we have praise in our hearts and thanksgiving on our lips today as we recall our many blessings.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Song - "Doxology"

Based on Psalm 100

Words: Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

Music: Louis Bourgeois (c.1510-1561)