And be thankful...

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:12-17

Heavenly Father, I am really, truly, all together blessed.  
Yet so many times, I fail to express my thanks to You.
I take so much for granted.
It's one thing to be aware of beauty and blessings:
the way the lake shimmers in the morning sunlight,
the leaves that crunch beneath my feet and make me so happy,
the reunion of my little posse of 5 under one roof.
And yet, God, to whom do I offer my thanks? 

Cultivate in me a genuine, true heart of thankfulness;
a heart that bubbles over with gratitude.
You, God, are the Giver.  
And every good gift and benefit I enjoy (even those that don't necessarily seem like blessings) is sifted through your all-wise, gracious hands. 
You've poured out so much grace upon my life,
and I want my life, in turn, to be an offering of praise and thanksgiving to You.