Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!
Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!
~words by August L. Storm, translated by Carl E. Backstrom
/~/
I recently discovered this song while creating a Thanksgiving playlist on YouTube (because we need to celebrate Thanksgiving more, y’all, and I celebrate partially by listening to music). It’s got a nice tune that’s fairly simple, and I love the words!
As you can see, this song gives thanks for several blessings, but also includes “bad things” such as things that God’s denied us, storms we’ve weathered, pain, thorns. . . Why would you give thanks for things like that?
I’ve wondered before: What if the “bad things” happen because something good is happening elsewhere or because it’ll make way for good things? I’ve talked about how we may be protected through “bad luck” and “inconveniences.” I’ve mentioned that good comes from the mountaintops and the valleys, and that God is most glorified in the storms. So if ya read those posts, you probably know how (or at least why) we can/should thank God for “bad things.” 🙂
What are some things you say “thanks” to God for? And do you agree we need more Thanksgiving songs?! 😄
