Thanksgiving Prayer - A Family Tradition

Our Mother developed Alzheimers at the early age of 56 and passed away 9 years later. These were some very hard years but we somehow managed to get through them. I remember dressing my mother for my college graduation so I really missed her during my adult years. There was so little known about Alzheimers in the 70's and at least today there are support groups and information that can be read. I pray that advances will continue to be made in the research of this dreaded disease.
Alzheimer's Association

Our Dad was seriously ill after our Mom's death and was on Intensive Care with a ruptured Aortic Aneurysm for more days than I care to remember. After he regained his strength, he started getting out more and met a wonderful woman and re-married. We began to combine her family and ours for a Tate Family Thanksgiving and there was always one thing that stayed the same. Our Dad would give the most beautiful blessing before we began dinner. He was a big man with a deep but soft voice and when he spoke, we listened. His blessings set the tone for the day and left us all with a wonderful secure feeling of "family".

We enjoyed this tradition for about 9 years and then our brother tragically passed away at the young age of 36. It was about more than we could all endure especially our Dad. Two months later was Thanksgiving and for this reason we moved the celebration to my house which was just down the hill from my Dad's. He and our sweet Step Mother were totally unable to entertain at that point, but we all felt the need to get together. The question arose about the blessing. The thought of my Dad not saying the blessing was very hard to handle but we knew that he would never be able to emotionally get through it.

I started looking for a special prayer and as if I was being directed by my Mother, I pulled out her old collection of Ideals. It was there that I found the prayer that would become our new family tradition and one that we would share with others who have lost loved ones. You see, we lost our Dad the next April so this was the last Thanksgiving that we spent with him.

The holidays are always a rough time for those who have lost loved ones. This prayer helped us get through that sad Thanksgiving and remember the good times.

My sisters and I, along with our families, hope that this prayer brings comfort and is as meaningful to you.

Grace for Thanksgiving Day
Alice Kennelly Roberts

Dear God,
Wherever we may be...On this Thanksgiving Day...
Gathered with loved ones in our homes...
Or many miles away...
We bow our heads, remembering those...
Who shared Thanksgiving past...
Those who have walked with us awhile...
Whose love will always last...
We thank Thee for the joy of friends...
The food before us set...
And for a tiny Pilgrim band...
Whose trials we can't forget...
Help us to sift the good and bad...
The hatred and the strife...
Grant us the wisdom and the strength...
To lead a useful life.
Amen

Letter to the Editor from our mother:
Considering all of the publicity given to juvenile delinquency and the crimes committed by teenagers it seems only fair that publicity be given the good actions of Christian teenagers.

We received the following letter from our 18 year old daughter, who is a freshman in college, and the letter gave us such a deep feeling of gratitude and pride that we would like to share it with others.

We are not seeking any personal publicity and ask that all identities be omitted if you see fit to publish the letter.

Dear Mom and Dad,
As we approach the Thanksgiving Season, I cannot help but think of the many things I have for which to be thankful.

First of all, I thank God for being born to you, the most wonderful parents in the world; for being born in America, a country filled with opportunity and freedom; and for being a Christian, with sincere faith in God.

And second, I thank you - for now I seem to realize the importance of things such as encouragement, help, faith, warmth, security, independence and love - all of these you have given me.

And third, I am thankful that I am able to realize these things and thank you, in this small way, for everything you have given me.
With greatest love
from your daughter

Editor's Note:

Refreshing, isn't it? We found it so.

The young lady has just about summed up all the things for which any of us could and should be prayerfully thankful today - "wonderful parents", "for being born in America, a country filled with opportunity and freedom", "security, faith...and love..."

What else is there for any of us, and how precious they are!

We could add only one more thing: devoted children such as she, and there are many of them. They give us hope for the future of this blessed land.

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