Thanksgiving Defined

This week it was my turn to bring a "spiritual practice" to the pastoral team. Sometimes I try to put together something more elaborate, but this week simple was key and it felt right. Our agenda including planning our annual Thanksgiving service and so I set my heart on thanksgiving and came up with a few reflections around giving thanks. Reading Ann Voskamp's excellent book, "One Thousand Gifts" has been inspiring me to live a life fully right where I am. (Somedays are easier than others.) It's also made me realize that all worship begins with thanksgiving. So I offered a sheet of paper with the graphic you see here and these instructions: Take a few minutes to think about some of the gifts God has given you. How might you express this gratitude in your actions, spoken words, and reactions throughout the rest of the day? Compose a written prayer of thanksgiving.

Here was my response:
God you are good. I want my heart, my mind, my words, and my actions to be set on thanksgiving - appreciating and worshipping you for all that you've done in my life  - FOR MY LIFE. Too often I spend time thinking about the places/pieces of my life where I want. You are helping me to see this is a waste of time. My goal should be to live fully right where I am and to live each moment in gratitude. In that spirit, I can trust you will move me forward and ever closer to You. Thank you God for loving me completely. Help me to return that love with thanksgiving.