Thankfulness

If we took gifts from earthly friends

With all the thankless greed

With which we take them from our God,

Friendless we’d be indeed.

We take the many blessings

He showers on us each day

As though He owed them to us,

Then hurry on our way;

Much as the lepers did of old,

Healed by His power divine;

Only one stopped to thank Him;

Where were the other nine?

Gone to their friends and families?

Who can their joy deny,

Yet they forgot to thank Him,

Even as you and I.

If He should measure gifts to us

By the gratitude we show,

Alas, how few of His children

His riches of grace would know.

Let us be sure to thank Him

For homes, and friends, and food,

For the freedom we have to worship,

For daily strength renewed;

But most of all for the Saviour

In infinite mercy given,

And for a place in love prepared,

Reserved for us in Heaven.

by Barbara C. Ryberg