How Thankful Am I

That I got up this morning on my own, with no aches or pains
That our hot water worked and the heater worked and the electricity worked
For so much food in our kitchen and for cold water to drink
For friends and family and acquaintances and contemporaries and peers and bosses and nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles and moms and dads and grandparents and son and daughter in law and grand babies

Joslin Mia and Liam Jason

Joslin posing on the porch

Smiling, always smiling: Liam

who could not possibly be any cuter and associates and president and mayor and representatives and police and fire people and paramedics and neighbours, and other people who like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and our fireplace and our shed and our vehicles and jobs and pens and clothes.

For this special day of the year when I get to see people I don't get to see much and for the food and fellowship we share.

"Come Ye Thankful People, Come"

by Henry Alford, 1810-1871

1. Come, ye thankful people, come;
Raise the song of Harvest-home.
All be safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied,
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of Harvest-home.

2. All the world is God's own field,
Fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown;
First the blade and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear.
Lord of harverst, grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.

3. For the Lord, our God, shall come
And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day
All offences purge away;
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast,
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore.

4. Even so, Lord, quickly come
To Thy final Harvest-home;
Gather Thou Thy people in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified,
In Thy garner to abide.
Come with all Thine angels, come,
Raise the glorious Harvest-home.

Hymn #574
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Is. 9: 3
Author: Henry Alford, 1844, cento, alt.
Composer: George J. Elvey, 1858
Tune: "St. George"

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