Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessing On Me

There are several ways to express our gratitude to God. One that has blessed our hearts is through music, songs that express our appreciation that too often we are unable to describe. One of these songs is “Thank You, Lord, for Your blessing on me.” 

Written in 1954 by James Easter and his two brothers, Russell Lee Easter and Edward Franklin Easter, this song came about after the glorious conversion of James Madison Easter, born April 24, 1933, in Mount Airy, North Carolina.  

In North Carolina, they were influenced by bluegrass music, which led them to start playing in beer joints, and not long after, they were not just playing in them. They turned alcoholics before they could legally drive. Russell almost lost his life to alcohol, but he was spared when he saw a young woman from Danville, VA, who went to church and helped change his life.  

Russell and Ed moved to Danville, VA, to work at a cotton mill, where they formed a band called "The Green Valley Quartet" but would later change it to "The Easters" to avoid confusion with another local band.

In the meantime, their brother James was still in Mount Airy, where he hung around with the wrong crowd and soon found himself in prison for stealing cars. The judge gave him a ten-year sentence for a felony theft charge with a hard labor. James, who had no idea about God, heard the gospel for the first time in this prison. 

Several months after entering prison, he went to a church service in the mess hall and sat beside his friend in the back to avoid the preacher. However, the prison preacher looked at him with tears in his eyes, pointed his finger, and told him that Jesus loved him. James later said that he didn't ask Jesus into his heart that day, but he wanted to. 

One night, another prisoner came where James was sleeping and started to attack him. James took a knife and pointed it at the man’s throat. After the guy left, he returned the next night with another man. As James was being attacked, a muscular man came in and pulled those two men off James, and they never bothered him again. He believed God sent an angel to protect him.  

James spent several Christmases in prison. One day, with another prisoner, they planned to escape with the help of two young women, where he would have been on the run for the rest of his life. These women were about to pick them up. Surprisingly, he was told he was being released for good behavior after serving five years.  

After his release, his brother Russell convinced him to move to Danville, VA. While there, he could not forget the gospel message he heard in prison and found himself in a little church where he gave his heart to God. He said that if he had not been to prison, he probably would not have given his life to God.   

James, a convicted felon and recovering alcoholic fresh out of prison, only had a job that paid little. With a wife and a young child, they lived in a tiny 2-room house rented for $10 monthly. Despite being poor, he knew as a young Christian he had something that was making him happy. 

Being moved by how God has blessed and protected him, he wrote "Thank you, Lord, for your Blessings on Me," which became one of the most beloved gospel songs in history. This song has been chosen as the "Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year" in 2002. It also won a Dove Award. Here are the words of the song:

“Thank You, Lord, for Your blessing on Me.”

While the world looks upon me

As I struggle along

They say I've got nothing

But they are so wrong

In my heart, I'm rejoicing

How I wish they could See

Thank you, Lord

For your blessing on me!

There's a roof up above me

I have a good place to sleep

There's food on my table

And shoes on my feet

You gave me your love Lord

And a fine family

Thank you, Lord

For your blessings on me!

I know I'm not wealthy

These clothes they're not new

I don't have much money

But Lord, I have you

And that's all that matters

Though the world may not see

Thank you, Lord

For your blessings on me!

Our Prayer today:

Thank you, Lord, for giving us a song to express our love and gratitude to You. 

During times when we cannot put words in our mouths to thank you, we can sing these songs of Praise and Thanksgiving to worship and glorify your wondrous works of grace in our lives.

May we always have a grateful heart to thank You for who You are and everything You do. 

We give you all the praise and glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!