~Poems and prayers for Thanksgiving~

~Poems and Prayers~

Thanksgiving
The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway ---
Thanksgiving comes again!
Old Rhyme.


Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)


Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
Author Unknown


We Give Thanks

Our Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ,
Our Heavenly Father.
--Harry Jewell

~From Junie Rose~

 Our Thanksgiving

May we always be together on this special holiday.

May our turkey always be so big and lush;
stuffed with cornbread dressing (Oh! The smell!)
with lots of sage to add the crowning touch!

 
All the mingling smells are so enticing!
And in my eyes there’s nothing that is better
than having all my loved ones close beside me,
as we work to bring it all together.

The routine, through the years, becomes an art.
Each turkey dinner seems to BEST the last!
And in our minds, this time, it all is perfect!
(Oh! But we said that, also, in the past! )

As the turkey roasts, there’s time aplenty,
to do Banana Pudding, and the rest.
The Harvest Loaf is tempting – and a challenge:
to resist, (until it’s time) a test!

 
As we pause with one more cup of coffee…
and we marvel at our great success…
we look around at all our loved one’s faces,
and realize how very well we’re blessed.

 
The table’s set with all our finest pieces.
The buffet table waiting – decorated!
Last minute dishes finalized -perfected!

 
The turkey’s done; well worth the time we’ve waited!

 
June Kellum