Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34

The words, “give thanks to the Lord,” are used at least 35 times in the NRSV translation of the Bible. They are music to my ear, healing for my heart, and food for my soul.” They are the “thank you, God” that makes life meaningful and worth living!

I love music. As I drove back from Olympia today, some melodies and words came to the surface. They worked as a base for my own reflections upon THANKSGIVING. I will list the songs and what they reminded me this Thanksgiving weekend. Perhaps you will add your own songs or words of thanks.

Thank you for giving me the morning,
Thank you for ev’ry day that’s new.
Thank you, that I can know my worries
can be cast on you.

Thank you, God, that each new day brings to me new hope, new promises. The past is over.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

Thank you, God, that you and not me, are in control. Thank you for inviting me to help you to care for those around me so that your world will be a better place to be.

We give thee but thine own,
whate’er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.

All that we have is yours, from you, a gift and a trust. Thank you for your generous caring for me. Give me a heart of generosity to others.

Thank You Lord for saving my soul,
Thank You Lord for making me whole,
Thank You Lord for giving to me,
Thy Great Salvation so full and free.

Thank you, God, for salvation and hope and forgiveness and wholeness. No matter what I have done in the past, the number of people I have hurt in my own carelessness or indifference, you have come to my aid. Give me a forgiving heart and a willingness to tell others that I am sorry for hurting them.

Think of those songs that give you words and thoughts to express your own thankfulness to God this Thanksgiving week. Truly, we have so much for which to say, “THANK YOU.”

And, from me, I wish YOU a very blessed, heart-thankful day this Thanksgiving.

Tyger Penson