Thanks Giving Prayer

We gather together
this time of the year
To thank God for blessings;
For joy and for tears.
For dawn follows darkness
and sun follows rain.
Mistakes are our lessons
for better to change.
Lord, help us to know
what it means to forgive
and how to be thankful
each day that we live.
To feel as a family;
To work as a team;
To know what the words
of apology mean'
To give it our best
when the path seems so rough;
To keep right on trying
and know that's enough;
To stop and consider
we're all prone to flaw;
To reach out our hand,
but our heart most of all.
While some choose to follow
while others may lead...
to walk side by side
is the real thing we need.
So keep us in mind, Lord.
We're thankful to Thee
to live and to work in
the land of the Free!

This poem was a finalist in the November 2013 poetry contest