Thanks for Everything

Dear God, 

It’s been quite the year. To start with, our country, America, could really use an adult right now. Please help us all to be thankful to live in a place where there is democracy and freedom. Help us to keep, and continue to use, both of those things.  

I’m grateful to you for all the people in my life. My Momma, Mary Belle, who struggles with her home dialysis, constant fatigue, and back pain, went to church with us last Sunday. Thank you. My daughter and grandson were there, too, with Laura Gail and me. Thanks for that, too. Being together in Your House, singing and praising you is something we all tend to take for granted. The Preacher and our church family are a touchstone for our week. It just feels good to be somewhere where everybody loves everybody else, and we can even sing off-key and know that nobody cares. Heck, it’s even encouraged. Thank you for being there with us.  

There’s going to be all kinds of family at my house this Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving and eat a bunch of food. Thank you for all of it. The family and the food. There’s plenty of folks in the world that don’t have either one. Help us all to reach out to those folks this week, and every week, and give them some fellowship, food, and hope. I appreciate the bounty you’ve blessed us with, and I know that things like that can change in the blink of an eye. Help me to be humble enough to remember that when I see someone in need. Help me to act and not expect anything in return. Kind acts are their own reward. Thank you for every person I’ve ever encountered in my life when I was down and out that did the same for me. Bless em right back, Lord. 

Bless all the folks that tend towards anxiety around the crowd, even when they’re family. You know who they are, and so do they. Help them to remember that we’re only on this earth for a short time and our family is in a constant state of change. Let the kids be a little loud, the adults act like kids and everybody to have fun and be full by the end of it all. Full of food, yes, but let their hearts be full when they leave this house, too. Full of love and the knowledge that they just left a place where everybody wants to see them again, soon. Even if the room gets crowded and loud again. Thank you for the loud folks. They’re our people. 

Last of all, thanks for all the little things you do. Keeping me sane, sober and safe for one more day. My job. Yes, that one that I’m always complaining about. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to provide for my family. Thanks for seeing all of us through this year, even in various stages of health. We’re all getting older. You’ve blessed us with another year together, so that’s a win in my book. Keep blessing Laura Gail as we tackle some blocked arteries and other stuff in the coming months. I need that woman. You don’t have to tell her that, though. She knows it already. Thanks so much for her.  

For all the food and fellowship we are about to receive, we thank you, God.  

Amen. Let’s eat. 

God bless Y’all!