I read this Thanksgiving Prayer this morning at Mass. It was printed in the Magnificat Mass book but comes from a Puritan prayer book called the Valley of Vision. Would that all people of faith remembered to thank God. Today's gospel was the story of the ten lepers healed by Christ. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus while "giving glory to God" in a loud voice. Let us never forget to raise our hearts, hands, and voices in thanksgiving to our Lord and God.
A THANKSGIVING PRAYER
O My God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, for adorning it, for sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
I bless thee for body thou hast given me, for preserving its strength and vigour, for providing senses to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my limbs, for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
I bless thee for thy royal bounty providing my daily support, for a full table and overflowing cup, for appetite, taste, sweetness;
There's a bit of a dispute as to where the first Thanksgiving actually took place. The pilgrims and the Plymouth colony always get the credit, but their thanksgiving was held in 1621 in Massachusetts. My own home state hosted an earlier Thanksgiving in 1619 at Berkley Plantation near Williamsburg. The Thanksgiving event was written into the charter. This fact doesn't diminish the importance or fascination with the Thanksgiving in Plymouth, but it illustrates the attitude of gratitude our forefathers had. May we imitate them in that. 
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