For snowy days and cozy sweaters,
for candlelit dinners and sleeping babies,
for walks in the cold on crisp sunny days,
I give You thanks, O Lord.

For little girl smiles,
for young boy giggles,
for babies’ coos,
I give You thanks, O Lord.

For morning hugs and afternoon kisses,
for prayers at each meal and blessings before bed,
for his hand in mine as I fall asleep at the end of the day,
I give You thanks, O Lord.

For shifting clouds at twilight,
for salmon-colored leaves backlit by the setting sun,
for eyes to see the beauty of this world,
I give You thanks, O Lord.

For quiet moments in the course of a busy day,
for good books to read to my children and by myself,
for pen and journal, Bible and prayer book,
I give You thanks, O Lord.

And in moments when tempers flare
and nerves fray
and I feel neither glad nor grateful,
I choose to give You thanks, O Lord.

When it’s below freezing outside,
and Luke has a catastrophic diaper in the Costco parking lot,
and three of my children are crying at the same time,
I give You thanks for the gift of laughter in the midst of chaos, O Lord.

When my shoulders burn,
and my head aches,
and my eyes blur with exhaustion (and maybe tears),
I give You thanks for this body, O Lord, with its limits that push me back to You.

When I reach the end of my patience,
the end of my energy,
the end of my self,
I give You thanks for the gift of prayer, O Lord, and the promise that You hear and answer.

For grace in the wilderness,
and strength for the wandering years,
and the wonder and joy of learning to see it,
I give You thanks, O Lord,
yesterday, today, tomorrow,
always.