A Thanksgiving

Lord, for the erring thought
  Not into evil wrought:
Lord, for the wicked will
  Betrayed and baffled still:
For the heart from itself kept,
  Our thanksgiving accept.

For ignorant hopes that were
  Broken to our blind prayer:
For pain, death, sorrow, sent
  Unto our chastisement:
For all loss of seeming good,
  Quicken our gratitude.

-- William Dean Howells (1837 - 1920), American realist author and literary critic, A Thanksgiving



[I had 17 family members at the house today (Friday) for Thanksgiving, because my kids are all grown up and have their own Thanksgivings on Thursday. The above is a little much of a downer to use as a prayer before a Thanksgiving meal, but he's got good points. I can relate.]