Through life's changing scenes and sorrows,
Disappointments, hopes and fears,
Sad todays but glad tomorrows
Share alike the passing years;
Passing years, like spectres gliding
Thro' the shadows of the night,
Flit across our vision, hiding
Scenes of long ago from light.
But there comes this thought to cheer us
As through life we wend our way.
Friends we love the best are near us
On the glad Thanksgiving day.
Each decade of time assures us,
Tho' with burdens life is dear;
Dreams of future joys allure us
Onward as life's goal we near,
Not in solid phalanx moving.
Nor like armored knights of yore
Over fallen victims proving
Victors in the art of war,
But in peaceful, glad reunion
Business cares are laid away,
Friends we love in sweet communion
Share our glad Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on
With those we hold dear
And to give thanks and pray
For all the best in the coming year.
How blessed we are to be surrounded by love
This Thanksgiving day we give thanks to above.
Let all come to God with thanksgiving to-day,
Full of deep gratitude, earnestly pray,
And think of the gifts most abundantly given,
That should bless us on earth, and lead us to heaven.
Let penitence rise in a rich, holy stream,
And asking of God our souls to redeem;
Contrition most deep, and a sorrow most grand,
And a longing to grasp the Savior's blest hand.
An asking for light, with a joy in the heart,
A seeking for grace that God can impart,
An earnest beseeching for God us to lead,
In the hour of all joy, the time of great need.
May we thus, praying to our God in the sky,
Feel His loving Spirit come from on high,
And thus may our lives be uplifted and blest,
And all through our souls come a peace and a rest.
Thanksgiving Day Poem by Catharine Ryder
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
Send out the needful warning!
Is not a day that's singled out,
But greets us every morning.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
Is like to every other,
A day in which to serve the Lord
And help a needy brother.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
The words like kind beseecher.
Bid us seek life's thankful way.
Through Christ, the Holy Teacher.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
Sound forth the joyous warning.
Rise, Christian hearts, "to watch and pray,"
Thanksgiving lives adorning.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
Is not for sport and pleasure,
But given as a life-time lease
To lay up heavenly treasure.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
0, heed the timely warning,
Is not a day all set apart,
But greets us every morning.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
To hearts low bowed in sorrow,
Look up beyond the earthly gloom,
Where shines a bright to-morrow.
Thanksgiving day! Thanksgiving day!
Is counted here diurnal,
But in God's holy presence there
Thanksgiving is eternal.
Thanksgiving Day Poet: Lydia Maria Child
Over the river and through the wood, To grandfather's house we go; The horse knows the way To carry the sleigh Through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood - Oh, how the wind does blow! It stings the toes And bites the nose, As over the ground we go.
Over the river and through the wood - Now grandmother's cap I spy! Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!
We walk on starry fields of white
And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
Of pleasures sweet and tender.
Our cares are bold and push their way
Upon our thought and feeling.
They hang about us all the day,
Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives
And conquers if we let it.
There's not a day in all the year
But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
To brim the past's wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
While living hearts can hear us.
Full many a blessing wears the guise
Of worry or of trouble.
Farseeing is the soul and wise
Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
To gladden every morrow.
We ought to make the moments notes
Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
As weeks and months pass o'er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
A grand Thanksgiving chorus.
We hope these Thanksgiving poems encourage and remind you and others to be thankful for every blessing that you have. Thanksgiving Day comes once a year but we should give thanks each and every day of the year.