Pause for Prayer: A week before Thanksgiving

    Artwork by Holly Stapleton

 

Thanksgiving is only a week from today and preparations are underway: some are making travel plans, some are planning menus - and others are simply trying to cope with the hidden, lonely sadness this day often occasions... Thanksgiving is a time to be especially sensitive to and gentle with those who find the holidays to be a difficult time.  With that in mind, I offer each year a "Prayer by an empty chair..."

I'm posting this early for those who might find it helpful now - and so that you might share it with others...

Prayer by an empty chair... 

This Thanksgiving, Lord,

there’ll be an empty chair at our table, 

an ache in our hearts 

and tears upon our faces...

 

We might try, we might even succeed
in shielding our grief from others 

but, Lord, we can't hide our hearts from you...

So, today we pray for (name your loved ones) 
whose loving presence we sorely miss
in these days of homecoming cheer....

Help us remember and tell again  

the stories of times we shared together,

the history of how we lived and loved...

 

Open our hearts to memories, Lord,

of blessings and burdens, sorrows and joys,

bundled together with ribbons of grace...

And with your ever-so-gentle touch
smooth and mend what brokenness
still stands in need of healing...

May the bonds you forged between us, Lord,

grow stronger as we remember

and grieve the ones we've lost...

 

Help us trust, as we believe, Lord,

that those who've now gone home to you

are seated at your table...

 

And refresh our hope in your promise
to gather us all together again

in your mercy, peace and joy... 

And help us lean on each other now 
for the strength we often need
to lift our drooping spirits...

Lord, open wide our hearts and souls
to you presence, warmth and comfort
all around, within and among us...

As you embrace the ones we miss 

hold us along with them, Lord,

in your everlasting arms... 

 

May we give thanks for all your gifts

especially for the peace we know

in family, friends  and faith...

 

We thank you for those with us now

and all whom we commend, Lord,

to your mercy and your love... 

 

In all things, Lord, in joy and sadness,

help us to remember:

because today's day you've made

we give you thanks and praise...

Amen.

  

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