With another Thanksgiving upon us, I’ve been pondering for days what to write this year.

Obviously, a Thanksgiving blog should be a positive writing about giving thanks. I’ve done so in the past, but with everything that’s happening in the world and in my life of late, I was finding it difficult to be inspired and to find the right words.

I’ll refrain from discussing my personal issues, but what’s happening in the world is beyond sad…it’s frightening. And while this war and upheaval in the Middle East (and even here in the US) might have come as a surprise to many, I say…you haven’t been paying attention. It has been a looming crisis for the past couple of years. But that’s a blog for another time.

So, while struggling to find the right words this Thanksgiving, I, thankfully, bumped into a wonderful, old song by the late, beautiful, and exceptionally talented Olivia Newton-John. It touched my heart.

The song…Grace and Gratitude.

This song grabbed me from the beginning – and encouraged me with increasingly positive verses as it progressed. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving song for all. It was certainly very meaningful to Olivia.

The song was originally released in 2006 to benefit various charities of cancer, as Olivia had been fighting breast cancer since 1992. At the time, she thought she had beaten the dreaded disease; hence, the song was very personal to her.

Later, in a 2016 Interview with Dan Rather, Olivia was asked; of all her songs, which song would she most want to be sung at her memorial service? She quickly replied, “Grace and Gratitude.” She continued by saying, “If I didn’t live longer than today, I’m very grateful for life. And the song expresses exactly that.”

Unknowingly to Rather and the public at that time, Olivia’s cancer had returned in 2013, which she kept private for years. However, in 2017, news broke about its return and her ongoing battle with the disease.

Sadly, Olivia passed away on August 8, 2022. She was 73.

And, yes, a touching rendition of Grace and Gratitude was sung at her memorial service.

So, if you’re like me and seeking positive, loving thoughts for this Thanksgiving season, please read the Grace and Gratitude lyrics below – and, better yet, click on the link at the end of the blog and listen to this beautiful song sung by the angel-like voice of the lovely Olivia Newton-John.

And when you read/hear the line, ‘Thank you for life’…whomever your ‘YOU’ is, be sure to give proper thanks this year.

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All I have and all I feel
Is all because of you
All I reap is all I sow
And love is our living proof

Thank you for life
Thank you for everything
I stand here in Grace and Gratitude

And I thank you …

Seasons come and seasons go
No matter what we choose
A thousand names
A thousand roads
All lead to one simple truth

Thank you for life
Thank you for everything
I stand here in grace and gratitude

And I … I thank you

Thank you for everything
I stand here in grace and gratitude

And I …

… I thank you …

I thank you.

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No…thank you, Olivia.

This Thanksgiving, I will give thanks for life and will remember Olivia, always, in grace and gratitude.

Here’s a link to her beautiful song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhWXl8l_68A

Happy Thanksgiving!

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