Thanksgiving Blessings

We remember the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day, not so much for their
turkey dinner, but for the sheer faith that inspired them to give thanks in
a year that saw nearly half their number die of sickness.
Yet they prayed with thanksgiving.--Ralph F. Wilson      

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks. Families and friends often gather together to give thanks through one or more Thanksgiving prayers in order to express their thankfulness  Remembering why we are thankful on Thanksgiving  Day is  a wonderful way to learn to appreciate all that we  have in this life, and how lucky we are to be alive to live every day to the fullest.  Give thought to the many blessings that you have.

Thanksgiving prayers and blessings are an important part of the tradition of Thanksgiving. Blessings give us  time to reflect on the good things about life. Often in this hectic society, we loose sight of just how blessed we really are.  The most basic thing to be thankful for is our existence.  We
should be grateful for who we are.  To be alive is a blessing.  Each one of   us can point to people, events and things that we have and cherish beyond measure. The fact that we have a meal in front of us  is a blessing. The family and friends that celebrate the day with us are a blessing.    Prayers on Thanksgiving are a natural response to the blessings. We say thanks for the blessing to our Higher Power no matter what the religion or beliefs.

There is much to be thankful for every day in every way, and there are always constant reminders, if we pay attention, of those blessings that are already in our lives.  To spend time in reflection, and in gratitude is a prayer of Thanksgiving.  Prayers on Thanksgiving is a chance to offer support and hope for those that are less fortunate then we are. It's a time to reflect on ways that we can strive to give back to the community and to humanity as a whole.

Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. We need to literally “count our blessings,” give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the experience of prosperity we already have.--Shakti Gawain