A Thanksgiving Prayer

Several years following President John F. Kennedy’s death, a poet named Kathryn Kay received a phone call from a congressional lobbyist who told her that her poem "Thanksgiving Prayer" was the inspiration for the President’s most famous quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He told her that President Kennedy was moved by a poem he had heard on a radio show on Thanksgiving in 1940 which "stuck with him." At the time, Kennedy was 23 years old, just starting his career, and a recent Harvard graduate.

The Lobbyist told Miss Kay that it was her poem which inspired the president because it was heard across the country on Thanksgiving, and the meaning behind the words were quite similar to Kennedy’s expression--specifically, the poem’s ending in a prayer, "God, help me make America as proud that I am hers—as I am proud, and grateful she is mine!"

While the story is considered a legend and not part of the history books, I thought that I’d share with you the Thanksgiving Prayer by Kathryn Kay as it was read in 1940, allegedly inspiring President Kennedy.

Thanksgiving Prayer

God, ev'ry year about this time,

according to routine,

I've bowed my head in the accepted way

and offered thanks, like some well synchronized machine

that prayed because it was the time to pray.

But, God, this year is different, this year I seem to feel

America's Thanksgiving is my own,

that in my nation's gratitude I have a part that's real,

a part that until now I've never known.

And, God, this year a deep humility has filled my heart,

a newborn pride rings true thruout my soul

because I do belong, because I have and am a part,

a tiny part of one tremendous whole.

I think I know the feeling of those first Americans

who said, "We must give thanks for this, our land."

I cherish now the rights that are each woman's, ev'ry man's,

the rights I've just begun to understand.

This year my heart has learned what all Thanksgiving Days are for,

true thankfulness at last I realize,

but, God, I'm sorry that it took the tragedy of war

in other lands to open up my eyes.

Again I bow my head but this time deep within me stirs

a mighty prayer, part of one vast design,

"God, help me make America as proud that I am hers—

as I am proud, and grateful she is mine!"

.

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

.

Ralph E. Jordan

President & CEO

Trident Health Resources, Inc.