Three years ago on Thanksgiving my nephew Sam was under rocket propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan.  A soldier in the same vehicle was killed (Nathan Good Iron), but Sam was able to fight off the attack until reinforcements arrived.  He and another North Dakota soldier’s lives were spared due to his heroics.  Sam received the Bronze Star for his bravery and a Purple Heart because in the attack he lost his right leg at the knee. I am thankful for his life - His ongoing recovery - His bravery - and for the courage that he is able to provide our Armed Forces in their ongoing battles.

John Floberg

The report from my wife’s surgeon that the tumor he removed from her pancreas was not malignant, and that her recovery from the surgery has been “great”. She and I have shared our lives for nearly forty-two years and I am grateful beyond words for what her love has meant to me.

I am thankful to God that our newborn daughter who has been in the hospital since she was 10 days old (congenital chylothorax) is healing and may get to go home this weekend after three and a half weeks.  I am also thankful that she gets her Thanksgiving meal this morning: she has not been allowed to eat for three weeks as part of her treatment, and I get to give her her first bottle this morning!

Thanks to God for the above miracles.

I am thankful for God touching my dad as never before during a recent Anglican worship service, for family, and for a position as Rector of an amazing Anglican church upon completion of seminary in December. God is good!

Thankful for so very many things, the list is too long.  Particularly thankful, though, for the graces listed above and for those faithful Anglicans within and without TEC who have stood with my family and my church for the Lord’s saving message.

A small thing to be certain, when compared with the above postings, and certainly those to come after.  Still, I am very thankful for the first use ever of the 1928 BCP in our church at the Thanksgiving Day service today.

the generosity of the revision committee of the General Synod…oh hang on!

For having a family where we are able to affirm and support and encourage one another’s vocations, in faith, in the church, and in the world.  We are blessed.

A PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING:
Oh most merciful Father, who has blessed the labors of many in the returns of the fruits of the earth; We give humble and hearty thanks for this bounty; we humbly ask for continuing, loving kindness, that our land may still yield her increase and return to your service,  for your glory, and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen. (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, 1928, by Athan-asi-us/FrankV).

I am thankful for life and health, for family and friends, for meaningful work, for music, for food and drink, for Christ’s one holy catholic and apostolic Church, for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world, for his glorious bodily resurrection from the dead, and for the hope of his coming again to complete God’s purpose for all of creation.

#7 Now, now, Rugby, don’t be naughty. Father Christmas is checking his list.

Wow, John in #1, very moving, and yet another reminder of the sacrifice so many are making in the military in these challenging times.

I am grateful that both I and my sister both have jobs together in these times, and my job is one I can feel good about doing.

I am grateful that my children seem to be navigating adolescence a little more smoothly.  My eldest who, 2 years ago seemed to be doing her best to drop out of high school and run away with psychotic losers, is now in college, appears to wish to stay in college, and now appears to be attracted to a much saner strata of her age group.

I’m grateful that my mother is 80 years old and in good health and with us today for Thanksgiving.

I’m grateful that my 12 year old nephew who two weeks ago was in the ICU at UCSF with an extremely virulent case of swine flu, is now enjoying Thanksgiving with his family, and is almost caught up on the homework he missed.

I’m also grateful that my brother, his father (who planned to be a priest at 18 and became an agnostic physician at 25), has suddenly, at the age of 53 started attending church regularly and dragging his two kids with him. (Methinks the two may be connected, possibly?

There is indeed much to be grateful for!

My husband had a heart issue late summer.  I am thankful that with good doctors, lots of prayer and a pacemaker he is better than new!