Prayer for Today--Thanksgiving

Sometimes gratitude comes hard, O Spirit:

hard as bricks thrown through a stained-glass Jesus feeding his flock;

hard as teeth grinding their own enamel night after anxious night;

hard as fighting through Black Friday shopping crowds.

Sometimes gratitude comes hard, O Spirit:

when there is loss of relationship,

loss of abilities,

loss of life,

loss of hope.

But then a wet nose nuzzles us awake in the morning,

or a stranger captures our wind-stolen scarf,

or a single star stretched out in so much space reminds us—

      we are not alone in this life:

      we are one with each creature,

      and with each other,

and with each part of your creation.

Spirit, our individual griefs are not small,

nor are the world’s pains.

But grant us gratitude amidst them

so we may also overcome—

      addiction or depression or disease or accident;

      poverty and war and all that depletes life rather than sustains it.

Even when gratitude is hard, O Spirit,

soften us to see your love poured out upon all the universe,

and help us give thanks.