Praise, Thanks, and Blessings
The children are very excited for this wonderful day, filled with family, friends and food. Here are some prayers that the children can practice for giving thanks on this lovely day.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
My family has sung this hymn for several generations on my mother’s side of the family.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Hear The Tune:
A Thanksgiving Psalm
Psalm 107
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
-Psalm 107:1
From Catholic Prayer Book for Children
Prayer for Blessings
Meal Prayer
Bless us O Lord, and these thy
gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Also from Catholic Prayer Book for Children
Enjoy Thanksgiving Books
Sharing The Bread * An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zietlow Miller & Jill McElmurry is a wonderful book to read with children. Miller’s text is a poem about all the tasks and pleasures of preparing and sharing the Thanksgiving meal. The illustrations by Jill McElmurry have an old fashioned, folk art quality that almost looks like the people could be paper dolls. Sharing the Bread could become of part of a family tradition.
Words of Thanksgiving Prayers, Poems and Meditations Collected by Nancy Streza is a lovely small compendium of beautiful words and thoughts about Thanksgiving. Many readers will recognize the lyrics of beloved hymns. When I was a child, we all learned the song, “Over the River and Through the Woods” by Lydia Maria Child. It’s here too, along with the “Thanksgiving Address” by Abraham Lincoln and the poem “Thanksgiving” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is a lovely book to use for meditations during the month of November or to read at the dinner table.
Celebrate Thanksgiving by Elizabeth Lawrence is an easy-to-read book for young independent readers. It has lovely photography to illustrate the meaning and traditions of Thanksgiving. Young emergent readers will enjoy following the story, as well. It is from BookWorms by Cavendish Square and uses “high- frequency words, simple sentences and strong picture/text support.” Perfect for the younger set!
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
