Welcome,
I'm so glad you're here,
Wherever you are right now,
In a busy kitchen,
On a quiet morning,
Or at the end of a long day.
Let this be a few minutes just for you,
A few minutes to slow down and to remember what's good.
Let's begin by settling in.
If you're able,
Let your shoulders soften.
Let your hands rest open in your lap.
And take a slow breath in.
And let it go.
One more,
Breathing in calm.
And breathing out everything you've been carrying.
Gratitude doesn't ask us to pretend life is perfect.
It simply invites us to notice that even in the hard seasons,
Good things are still here.
Small things.
Quiet things.
Things we walk past every day without seeing.
So let's take a moment to see them now.
Thank you for this breath.
And the next one.
For a body that carries me through each day.
Even on the days it feels tired or slow.
Or not quite what it used to be.
Thank you for every step it has taken.
And every step still ahead.
Thank you for the roof over my head,
For warmth when the evenings turn cold.
For a cup of something hot in my hands.
And a place to rest at night.
Thank you for the people in my life.
For the ones who make me laugh.
The ones who tell me the truth.
The ones who show up without being asked.
For family by birth and family by choice.
Let one face come to mind now,
Someone you're grateful for today.
Just hold them in your heart for a moment.
Thank you for them,
For the ways they've loved me,
Shaped me.
And stayed.
And thank you too for the ones I miss.
The ones who sat at my table once and whose chair feels a little empty now.
Thank you for the time we had and for the love that doesn't leave,
Even when they do.
Thank you for the simple gifts of the season.
For golden leaves and crisp mornings.
For the smell of something baking.
For a table full of food and hands to share it with.
For laughter in the next room and quiet moments when the dishes are done.
Thank you for the hard things too.
The ones that taught me patience.
That made me stronger than I knew I could be.
I softened my heart toward others who are struggling.
I may not understand every season I've walked through,
But I'm still here,
And that in itself is a gift.
Now take a moment to name one small thing from today,
Something easy to overlook,
A kind word,
A warm sip of coffee.
Sunlight through a window,
Just notice it and say thank you silently in your heart.
And as we gather all of these together,
The big blessings and the tiny ones,
Let's turn them into a prayer.
God,
Thank you.
Thank you for this life,
For this day,
For every good and gentle thing you've placed along my path,
Even when I didn't notice it was there.
When I'm tempted to focus on what's missing.
Turn my eyes back to what I have.
When I'm tired,
Remind me that I am held.
When I feel alone,
Remind me of the people who love me.
And of your love,
Which never runs out.
Give me a grateful heart,
Not just today,
But every day.
A heart that notices,
A heart that gives thanks,
A heart that shares what it has been given.
Let my gratitude spill over into kindness.
A phone call.
A hug.
A word of thanks to someone who needs to hear it.
And as I go back into my day or into my rest.
Let me carry this piece with me,
The quiet knowing that I have so much to be thankful for.
And that I am never,
Ever alone.
Amen.
Take one last slow breath in.
And let it go.
Thank you for spending these few minutes with me.
I hope you'll come back whenever your heart needs a reminder of all that is good.
Happy Thanksgiving and may your heart stay full.
