Giving Thanks for Things That Make Us Happy

Gracious God, in the face of the challenges and problems and pain that seem to fill our world, we give thanks for the things that make us happy, that bring us joy, that give us satisfaction. Thank you for:

• Slow mornings.
• Happy children playing and the hope of new life.
• Floating in sunsets and being held in the vastness of the ocean you created.
• Floating weightlessly in pools and sitting on porches.​

• Cooking supper and learning new things.
• Getting lost in the world of birds and trees.
• Watching and listening to grandchildren as they grow over the years.
• The ability to putter around the kitchen and to sit and do nothing.
• Making a difference in someone’s life.
• Connecting with friends and families—virtually and on road trips.
• The freedom to do what you want and not feel guilty.
• Travel that allows for the discovery of new places and new people.
• Time at home and telling dad jokes that still evoke groans around the table.
• Going outside to play.
• Younger people who help move forward the struggle for justice.
• Feeling comfortable in our own skin.

For all and so many other things that bring happiness to our lives, we give thanks. Amen.