For many, this has been a very difficult year, a very challenging year. Whether your year has been better than last year or not, it doesn’t take too much effort to realize we still have so much to be thankful for.

The sun came up this morning. We are still breathing. Our blessings extended beyond Thanksgiving Day, so it is appropriate that we give thanks for all the blessings we have received from God, the giver of all gifts, every day. One way we can show our gratitude is to consider how we might bless others with all we have been given.

Samuel F. Pugh wrote a prayer titled “Remembering Others” that some use as their prayer on Thanksgiving. With humble apologies to Mr. Pugh, I borrowed his thoughts to suggest some of the things we may have to be grateful for EVERY day and echo his words that in our remembering we be moved to take action.

If we traveled to gather with others or others traveled to be with us for Thanksgiving, may we be grateful for safe travel, for the freedom to travel, the freedom to gather, the freedom to pray, and all the freedoms we enjoy. May we remember all those who do not enjoy such freedoms. May we remember those who travel, not for pleasure or leisure, but to escape oppression, extreme poverty, violence or the impacts of climate change. We also want to remember those who today may be afraid to leave their homes because of war, violence or persecution for the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or their religious beliefs. In this remembering, may we commit to do something to work for peace and justice for ALL God’s people for each tomorrow.

If we celebrated Thanksgiving in the company of family and friends, we have reason to be thankful. May we also remember those who weren’t there to celebrate this year, all those who grieve their absence, and all those who are alone each day. In remembering, may we be prompted to do something to make someone’s life a little less lonely each tomorrow.

If we give thanks for our health, may we also remember those who are ill and suffer every day from diseases that are not treatable. May we remember, too, those who suffer from diseases that are treatable but are not being treated because they lack access to adequate, affordable medical care. May they remind us to find ways we can fight for the right to medical care for all God’s people for each tomorrow.

If we enjoy the shelter of our home, with its heat, electricity and clean water all available at our fingertips, we have reason to be thankful. May our gratitude also remind us of all those who lack adequate housing, those who have no heat or electricity, and those who have to walk miles to get any water at all. In this remembering, may we commit to do something to help others enjoy these simple blessings each tomorrow.

If we sit down at our tables to a meal of Thanksgiving leftovers, may we remember all those who will go hungry today and commit to do something to help see that they will have food to eat each tomorrow.

And if we grumble about having to go back to work after our long holiday weekend, we have reason to be thankful. May that remind us of those who worked all weekend to keep us safe and healthy, as well as those who worked in stores and restaurants. May we remember those who have no job, those who are underemployed, and those who have to work multiple jobs and still struggle to provide for even the most basic needs for themselves and their families. In this remembering, may we commit to do something to support the dignity of workers and decent wages for all workers for each tomorrow.

Yes, we have so much to be thankful for! As we recall all the gifts God has blessed us with, may we be moved to share our blessings with others. “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.” (Luke 12:48) We cannot solve all the world’s problems, but we can all do something – with our voice, with our hands and feet, and with our treasure. We have been given these blessings, NOT because God loves us more, but so that we might show our love for God by loving ALL God’s children.

For the many gifts and blessings we receive each day, and for the responsibility, willingness and ability to share those gifts with others, we say Deo Gratias!