Thanksgiving Prayers, Blessings and Quotes: Inspiration for a Holiday of Gratitude (SLIDESHOW)

On Thursday, millions of Americans from every religious and cultural background will come together with family and friends to give thanks for the blessings of life. While it may seem that faith and religion are more divisive than unifying, people from all backgrounds -- devout and doubtful alike -- have something to be thankful for, and this universal expression of gratitude dissolves many boundaries.

Huffington Post Religion has compiled prayers of thanks and gratitude from theologians and philosophers, poets and playwrights, East and West, religious and secular. This Thanksgiving, may you find inspiration from these timeless verses of thankful praise.

Comments

[larmarch5]

12:43 PM on 11/24/2010

Tomorrow at the family gathering we have to say what we are thankful for. I am thankful that my nephew and his three howler monkey kids are up in Lake Tahoe on their own holiday instead of with us. I look forward to the first peaceful TG in four years.

[Weirdwriter]

09:42 PM on 11/24/2010

Make the most of it!

[PresidentRobertBooth]

02:07 AM on 11/24/2010

Thanksgiving should be merged with Christmas.
 
 
Makes no sense to eat turkey twice in just over a month.

[Weirdwriter]

09:43 PM on 11/24/2010

You no like turkey? Why not have a ham?

[Need To Know Why]

05:58 PM on 11/23/2010

When I was a kid I we used to say this one, "Father, Son, Holy Ghost, fastest eater gets the most".

[Need To Know Why]

05:55 PM on 11/23/2010

My fav......the Ralph Waldo Emerson. Easy to remember and says it all in few words.

[LiberalMormon]

05:39 PM on 11/23/2010

Nice. Loved the ee cummings poem.

[ThBigD]

04:33 PM on 11/23/2010

Thank you Jesus, for this food which you didn't prepare....

[Paul Finley]

03:05 PM on 11/23/2010

The earth holds many treasures and the giving of thanks that comes from the heart of mankind emplifies the praiseworthiness of the gift, appreciation for this holiday is expressed across many boundaries of faith.

[Closer to Reason]

01:37 PM on 11/23/2010

When I was a kid, I wondered why people always thanked God for everybody being together at the table - but with their eyes closed and heads bowed. Then I wondered if people actually look each other in the face and say the same exact thing, and with so much emotion that is put into the prayer. Instead of thanking a 3rd party for everybody's presence, I didn't understand why people couldn't just look at their grandmother and say it in person; genuinely.

[de-meme-ing]

03:11 PM on 11/24/2010

"I didn't understand why people couldn't just look at their grandmother and say it in person; genuinely."

A winner.

[Natasha Iriah]

03:21 PM on 11/24/2010

people...? isn't that too much of a stretch... I know "people" who do both... thank God and share love and gratitude face-to-face.

[Congzilla]

01:08 PM on 11/23/2010

Rub a dub dub, Thanks for the grub, yeeAAAY GOD!

[rcnc1980]

12:33 PM on 11/23/2010

Oh yeah, by the way sorry about all the dead Indians.

[1differentdrummer]

11:11 AM on 11/23/2010

If we're alive, somewhat healthy, don't need to sleep in a cardboard box and able to find food for the table we should be grateful. There are lots of folks in the world who rarely see food or shelter.

[Bob Wood]

10:25 AM on 11/23/2010

If we have life today...we have a lot to be thankful for. After 4.5 billion years of existence and at least two major extinctions...most of the life forms that ever existed are extinct...yet, here we are. That strikes me as pretty special. We can debate who or what we should thank...but thankful we should be. I'm thankful for each and everyone who posts here...it is you who make the world we share more colorful, interesting, challenging, and just plain fun...whether or not we ever agree...Th­anks...for you all, I'm thankful...(sigh)

[millebocca]

01:35 PM on 11/23/2010

we r truly but a lucky blip on that timeline - so far. may we not be the first ones to intentionally do ourselves in.

[Bob Wood]

02:16 PM on 11/23/2010

Sadly...that is a distinct possibility if we can't find ways to reason with one another instead of building ever more destructive weapons. As it is, we'll never challenge dinosaurs for longevity...(sigh)

[Need To Know Why]

06:01 PM on 11/23/2010

What a sweetheart you are Bob Wood. I'm thankful for folks like you :) Fn'F

[Bob Wood]

10:03 AM on 11/24/2010

Ahhhhh...(blush), bow & curtsey...(more blushes)...(sigh)

[Animal Compassion]

10:17 AM on 11/23/2010

Thank ya Jesus for this dead carcass on our table that was raised in factory farm containment and forced steroids and antibiotics so that my family may continue to feast and watch our front butts grow. Amen.

http://www.adoptaturkey.org/aat/media_center/thanksgiving_toll.html

[Weirdwriter]

01:31 PM on 11/23/2010

Thank God (or whatever term you prefer) for the animal raised by a responsible farmer who did not use antibiotics, hormones, chemicals, cages, unclean conditions etc. in order to sell his/her product to discerning customers.

Please forgive the self-righteous arsepains who insist on proselytizing in a tiresome and condescending manner. Amen.

[Animal Compassion]

12:51 PM on 11/24/2010

Sentient beings as a product. Guess you support human slavery too since it is just a product sold by him/her.

[SangZe]

08:46 AM on 11/23/2010

Thank you for the death and destruction we have been able to bring to people who we don't like. Thank you for the money we were able to make from the sale of weapons and the defilement of our planet. Thank you for the victory of passionate racists and others who hate over reasonable and compassionate people in our congress. Thank you for Sara and Glenn and Rush. Thank you for assisting in the failure of the presidency of the first black man elected to the office.

[75thRanger]

11:19 AM on 11/23/2010

Good grief man you have issues. Seems like you have no idea what Thanksgiving is all about.

RLTW

[ladylove114]

11:52 AM on 11/23/2010

I think I'll also pray for you on Thanksgiving.

[Gutts]

08:41 AM on 11/23/2010

I can't wait until Thanksgiving and the prayer is important. I believe that most of the posters thus far will be eating alone.....HA!

[scotsense]

09:44 AM on 11/23/2010

what a solid Christan comment to make

[Weirdwriter]

01:33 PM on 11/23/2010

You assumed the poster is a Christian because, oh, he/she is commenting on the spiteful snark being offered here? What a solidly bigoted comment to make.

[PedroLeon]

04:44 PM on 11/23/2010

Why not be more specific? On a planet with 2 billion Christians spread across countless sects, traditions and denominations, you're either recklessly vague or you have a chip on your shoulder.

[Tood Tocker]

10:05 PM on 12/27/2010

What are you praying for… brains?