A prayer...

Just a few weeks ago a number of children from our town went on a trip to China through a school program - a wonderful opportunity!

One the moms whose child took the trip has been praying for the families and children whose lives have been ended or thrown into chaos by the earthquake there. And of course a mother wonders and worries about how close her own child came to disaster's doorstep. This mom asked me about how she might pray at this time and so I wrote this for her.

I hope others will find it helpful as well: perhaps you will pray these words with your family at dinner tonight...

Dear God,

Our lives are your gift to us,
as fragile and they are strong.
From day to day, with all our care and vigilance,
we still do not know what might befall us.

We pray for those around the world
whose daily lives are so much more tenuous than our own -
especially for the poor and the homeless.

We pray that you will send your Holy Spirit
to draw us, the strong and stable in the global village,
to offer and use everything at our disposal
to reach out and serve those in need, in dire need,
in daily, dire need.

We thank you for the prosperity and safety that are ours
and ask you to never let us take these for granted.
Give us generous hearts:
we have so much more than we need.
Help us to remember that all good gifts come from you
and are "on loan" to us to share with others.

Make us as watchful for the needs of those far away
as we are for those who live under our own roofs,
in our parish and town and in our nation.

Make us grateful for all we have,
especially for our families and friends.
May our thanksgiving never cease to flow from our hearts.
May our praise become the deeds of caring for others.

We pray in the name of Jesus
who is Lord for ever and ever.

Amen.

-ConcordPastor