Prayers of Thanksgiving for Children

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One of the things that I’ve tried to consistently do with the children on a daily basis for the last several years is to give thanks to the Lord for something when we pray. It has now naturally become a part of our prayers and when the kids say their own prayers they almost always give thanks for something.

And I am so thankful when they are thankful! 🙂

Thanksgiving in the U.S. is a little over a month away and leading up to the holiday I’d like our children to learn a couple of recited prayers of thanksgiving.   We will recite these prayers during morning time, mealtime or whenever it strikes our fancy.

Here are some prayers of thanksgiving that we’ll be choosing from and I hope to work with the children on creating their own prayers of thanksgiving as well.

Prayers of Thanksgiving for Children

I thank Thee, Lord, for sleep and rest,
For all the things that I love best,
Now guide me through another day
And bless my work and bless my play.
Lord, make me strong for noble ends,
Protect and bless my loving friends;
Of all mankind good Christians make.
All this I ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

~ Author Unknown (from Bible Hub)

 

For every cup and plateful,
God make us truly grateful.

~ Author Unknown (from A Child’s Book of Prayers by Juli Kangas)

 

Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you, God, for everything!

~ Edith Rutter Leatham (from A Child’s Book of Prayers by Juli Kangas)

 

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee.
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee. Amen.

~ Author Unknown (although sometimes attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson)

 

Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need,
The sun, the rain, and the apple seed.
Oh, the Lord is good to me.

~ attributed to John Chapman (from A Child’s Book of Prayers by Juli Kangas)

 

In gratitude we bow our heads
To thank Thee, Lord, for daily bread,
And may we use the strength is brings
For doing kind and helpful things.

~ Author unknown (from A Child’s Book of Prayers by Juli Kangas)

 

In the early morning,
With the sun’s first rays.
All God’s little children
Thank and pray and praise.

I, too, thanks would offer,
Jesus, Shepherd dear,
For Thy tender pasture,
For Thy guiding care.

And I would implore Thee,
Be with me this day,
Lest I from Thee wander,
Into danger stray. Amen.

~ Author Unknown (from Bible Hub)

 

Father, we thank Thee for the night,
And for the pleasant morning light;
For rest and food and loving care,
And all that make the day so fair.
Help us to do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good;
In all we do, all we say,
To grow more loving every day.

~ Author Unknown (from Childcraft The How and Why Library, Volume 1, 1972)

Do you have any recited prayers of thanksgiving that you say with your children?

And if you are looking for other ways to guide your children to reflect on their blessings, you can get your FREE 31-Day Gratitude Journal for Kids.