LIFT UP YOUR PLATES

One Thanksgiving when we were seated around the dinner table at Mom's home on Camano Island, looking forward to the best food in the world, Mom said, "All of you pick up your plates."

We siblings and spouses looked at each other, wondering if this were a new custom she had devised -- lifting our empty plates up to God? We thought it was a bit odd, but we gave little shrugs and obeyed. But underneath each plate was a paper with a hand-written prayer. We smiled, took up the papers, set our plates back down, and together read...

Father in heaven, from above
look down upon each one of us now in love.
Bless our family today in a special way
and supply our every need -
spiritually, physically and materially.
We are truly grateful on this Thanksgiving Day
that You have kept us safe through another year.
We thank You for this special meal
and pray Your blessing on it.
Bless our fellowship together and
keep us safe through another year.
Make us strong to meet every problem
and keep us humble and willing to
do Your will in every way.
Be with our loved ones who are not here with us.
And somehow may all the hungry people
in this world be fed.
In Thy name we pray -
Amen.

______

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