Release Date: October 8th, 2025An Authentic Word of Thanksgiving
- by Ruth Boehm
“Praise to God, Immortal praise” was the song we sang each Thanksgiving. It is a descriptive hymn naming the beauty of the earth, the rich harvest of fields and gardens (HWB 91,92). The song has a second part. A different tune. A different tone. The next three verses describe the devastation of drought, disease and natural disaster. But the final verse begins with the word, Yet. Yet, in spite of all of that, a word of gratitude to God is spoken and sung.
The hymn is based on the Habakkuk 3: 17-18.
Though the fig tree does not blossom
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
The word Yet is a powerful word. Yet is a word that indicates that no matter what is going on, the speaker has the power to make a decision. The decision of the prophet is to say, Yet, I will praise you. Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year and an opportunity for people in our communities and in our congregations to pause and to give thanks. Sometimes it is easy. "Thank-you God," rolls off the tongue when it is in response to an abundant harvest, a new job opportunity, the birth of a grand-child or a successful term of study. But sometimes, the "thank-you" is harder to speak. After the loss of a loved one, when the cancer returns, when the war doesn’t stop, when the basement floods and when your child is struggling.
"Thank-you God," rolls off the tongue when it is in response to an abundant harvest, a new job opportunity, the birth of a grand-child or a successful term of study. But sometimes, the "thank-you" is harder to speak.
And is precisely in the middle of the difficult experiences of life that the word of the prophet Habakkuk is a model for our life of faith. It is in the in the midst of the struggles that we make a decision of faith. We speak the simple word Yet. We write out the word, Nevertheless. We start a sentence with Yet and complete it with thanks. We orient ourselves to look for what it is we Are able to thank God for in the midst of overwhelming experiences. And the ‘thank-you’ moves us.
As this Thanksgiving weekend approaches, may you be able to say, “Thank-you God.” If you are in the midst of amazing life experiences may it roll off your tongue with ease. And if you are in the middle of real struggles, may you be encouraged by the prophet Habbakuk. Decide to say, Yet and Thank-You.
The song “Praise to God, Immortal Praise” may be new to you. Other songs that hint of Habakkuk 3 include Voices Together #637 – Blessed Be Your Name or the Rend Collective/Matt Maher song, “Hallelujah Anyway.”
May you find a way to speak or sing an authentic word of thanksgiving.
- Ruth Boehm is pastor at Faith Mennonite Church