A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 8/2

I'm jealous, Lord,
   when I see a small child in someone's arms..

I try to remember how that felt:
   to be held so closely, carried so gently,
   rocked and lullabyed in arms more than able
   to hold the whole of me
   in comfort, warm and loving...

How is it I can't remember, Lord,
   how could I have ever forgotten
the pure intimacy of those arms holding me,
   surrounding me, supporting me, protecting me,
   hugging me close, just a heart beat's distance
   from another's beating heart...

No, I can't remember that far back, Lord,
but this I know, without a doubt:
   in the morning and the evening and all day long
       you hold me, you carry me,
       you cradle me in arms more than able
       to hold the whole of me forever,
       in comfort, warm and loving...

You still hold me and carry me, Lord,
   for I'm still your child, at 76 or 56 or 96
and anywhere I go,
I go there in your arms,
   in good times and in hard times,
   in my waking and my sleeping,
I'm still your child in arms, Lord,
   and you're still my loving God...

Hold me in your arms and protect me, Lord
   when I'm awake or fast asleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
   and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

In The Morning, In The Evening by Adam Tice/Bex Gaunt