When I first heard the song “All Good Gifts” in the adorably ragamuffin movie version of Godspell way back in 1973, I got choked up. I didn’t understand why. And then, even though I considered God (“if there even is such a thing”) a mindless force, I began to cry when the cast sang:
We thank thee, then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food:
No gifts have we to offer
For all thy love imparts,
But that which thou desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts.
Not just because of Stephen Schwartz’s lilting melody or Merrill’s sweet tenor, but because the century’s-old words touched some deep longing in me. A longing that overrode my official atheist-turned-agnostic-turned-“I have my own religion” views at the time. A longing that pre-existed not just my theories, but me. A longing to know, love, and thank my Creator for my very existence.
I learned later that virtually every study on happiness shows an inseparable connection to gratitude. Humans are wired to give thanks. We’re made that way.
Three years later, I took a leap of faith, and for the first time began thanking God “for all things bright and good.” But most of all, because I had “no gifts to offer,” I offered him the one thing he desired, my “humble, thankful heart.” And I still do. But when I forget and focus on mere things, the longing returns. And then I remember what I’m made for.
On this day that Americans call Thanksgiving, I’m grateful to those who love and support me, to my wife, to my family and friends, and to those who are kinder to me than I deserve. But most of all, I’m grateful to the One who made them. The One responsible for all good gifts.
Who do you thank?
Mitch Teemley 
Happy Thanksgiving, Mitch! GOD bless you and your family!
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You too, Gersom!
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I love that song! I remember that year I got out my guitar and sang it at the Thanksgiving dinner table. College freshman and budding Jesus freak, I wanted the family to know Whom I was thanking that year. 😉
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Amen, fellow Jesus freak!
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Happy Thanksgiving Mitch!
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You too, Max!
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Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing your journey.
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You too, PG!
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Amen, Mitch! Happy Thanksgiving! God bless!
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You too, Ryan, on both counts!
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All thanks ultimately goes to God, but I still thank my mom for teaching me how to make a grill cheese sandwich.
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I did not leave my agnostic atheism behind until March 11, 2003. Later that same year, a coworker invited me to Thanksgiving dinner. That same coworker is now my Best Friend Husband. I have SO MUCH to be grateful for!
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know jason the villain from friday the which day
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A beautiful testimony, Mitch, may you and yours be blessed.
I thank God for rescuing me from a life of despair and ultimately eternal damnation, in exchange He gave me what I don’t deserve an intimate relationship with Him for all eternity. Beyond that, I am grateful for people who prayed for me throughout my life. Especially the prayers that cultivated the soil of my heart to receive what Christ had to offer.
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Amen, Manette.
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Thank you, that was beautifully communicated. Happy Thanksgiving!
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You too, Susan!
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So thankful for our steadfast God who pursues us with His love and grace.
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Beautifully stated. Happy Thanksgiving!
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You too!
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The line “we have no gifts to offer” reminds me of the “Little Drummer Boy” line “I have no gift to bring, no gift fit for a king.” That one always chokes me up
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Happy Thanksgiving, Mitch!
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You too, Liz!
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We are truly blessed to have your perspective, Mitch. Even though at the time I didn’t understand as well. It is so great that we are given time to gain true meaning. The years of the 1970s were a time of enlightenment. To reflect upon that time I see the blessings of being weird enough to hold on to reality. Today we need to channel our thoughts to that which is worthy of our Thanks. Great post as always.
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Happy Thanksgiving 😊
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Happy Thanksgiving Mitch
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Lovely! Happy Thanksgiving!
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I have never seen that film, love the clothes. We used to sing those words at school and church, but a different tune.
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Yes, the words are from an old hym/poem, but Stephen Schwartz wrote a new melody for the musical.
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what was mitchs life in years 97 98 99 & 44
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Married and raising two young daughters in 1997-99, Rudy. 1944 is before I was born.
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as of 69 94 & 98
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I have no idea what you mean, Rudy.
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“I really wanna thank you Lord!” 🎶🎵🙏😊
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Grateful for you, Mitch! Hope your Thanksgiving continues to last way past today!
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Aw, thank you, Heidi, likewise!
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I thank God, hopefully every day many times! At least that is my goal 😊🙏🏻 Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank on, Lisa!
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Well said, my friend. Grace, mercy, undeserved favor are a few more that come to mind for me…regularly.
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Thankyou for passing the gratitude plate around the Word Press family table Mitch. All who partake can have a good slice of happiness for dessert. May there be many leftovers.
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Amen to that, Gary!
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So loved this post! Thank you!
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I really enjoyed this post. Thank you!
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I dont seem to remember you thanking my girlfriend Teri Wise or myself for taking you to see Godspell for the first time or for even finding your lost childhood best friend, either?
Just sayin, Ray ⛧
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I don’t remember you and Teri taking me to see the movie, Ray, but thanks. What lost best friend are you referring to?
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Mitch, don’t you remember when you said that when we went to see the film Godspell, was when you found Jesus of Nazareth, but I told you it was more likely when we went to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the Aquarius Theater on Sunset Blvd.
Especially since, the Andrew Lloyd Webber story for Jesus Christ Superstar is loosely based on the Gospels’ accounts of the last week of Jesus’s life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem and ending with the crucifixion.
If you don’t remember, you can always ask Rory or call down the spirits from the mountain, bring up, call down, conjure, invoke, call forth, put forward, arouse, evoke, stir and raise up Bev…? ;^)
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Ray, I became a Jesus follower in 1976, three years after the release of the movie Godspell. I also saw several stage productions of the play, and even directed one. The theatrical production of Jesus Christ Superstar had no effect on my beliefs.
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Hi Mitch,
Isn’t is great when a song or poem glows with the Holy Spirit. Do you know what song Jesus sang on the cross in Godspell. That one really got me.
Merry Christmas,
Gary
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