For the Fruit of All Creation
Hymn History
By Savannah Logan
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of the profound importance of gratitude — not just as a fleeting emotion but as a complete way of life. One hymn that beautifully captures this spirit is “For the Fruit of All Creation”, written by Reverend Fred Pratt Green. This Thanksgiving hymn not only helps us count our blessings but also calls us to express our gratitude by loving and serving others. Like St. Francis of Assisi said: “Preach the Gospel at all times – and when necessary, use words.”
Fred Pratt Green, born in Roby, Lancashire, England, in 1903, was a Methodist minister and one of the most significant hymn writers of the twentieth century. Though he humbly rejected comparisons to greats like Charles Wesley, Green authored over 300 hymns during his ministry. He began writing hymns in his forties, having already published four books of poetry. Green’s love for writing blossomed while working in his father’s leather business before his ordination. Later in life, the royalties from his hymns were used to establish a trust supporting hymn writers and hymnology studies, reflecting his selfless commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of faith through music. Green passed away in 2000, but his legacy endures in the beauty of his hymns.
The hymn’s three stanzas take us on a journey of thanksgiving. The first invites us to marvel at the daily blessings of life: the growing of crops, the rhythms of nature, and the beauty of creation, even while we sleep. The second stanza challenges us to reflect on how we can love and serve our neighbors. True gratitude doesn’t stop with acknowledgment – it must inspire action. The third stanza turns our focus to spiritual blessings: the gift of salvation and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which should “astound” and “confound” us with God’s boundless love. This hymn echoes Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 22:37-40, where He identifies the greatest commandments: to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. These two commandments are inseparably linked. Genuine gratitude to God is demonstrated in how we treat others.
As we sing “For the Fruit of All Creation” this Thanksgiving, let it serve as a reminder that our blessings are not merely for our own enjoyment. They are invitations to share God’s love and provision with others. Gratitude is not just about giving thanks – it’s about giving back.
This Thanksgiving, take time to look around your life. Celebrate the blessings big and small, but also ask: how can I pass that gratitude forward? How can I love my neighbor in meaningful ways? In the words of Fred Pratt Green, let our thankfulness inspire us to “love and serve” in every opportunity we encounter. Gratitude, after all, is not just a feeling – it’s a way of life that transforms us and those around us, if we choose to allow it to.
