A Prayer for the Mess of Motherhood

A Prayer for the Mess of Motherhood

Creator God, Who gave life to dear ones, Who knows the deep pride and frustration that commingle in the heart of a parent, Who breathed life into dust, Who feels the sting of disappointment in your children. Pour out grace on my family. Grant me perspective to see the world from two feet high, From…

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Easter Prayer

Easter Prayer

Spring seems especially brilliant this year, as does Easter’s promise of resurrection. Perhaps, though, I’m attuned to it differently. More alert. More awake. More present. Or maybe the darkness, death, violence, and grief has been much too prevalent. In the bright purples, the wild flowers dotting the grass, a chorus of birds, a flowing stream,…

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Still, Slow, Stoke, Save My Anger

Still, Slow, Stoke, Save My Anger

Still my anger, Lord over milk spilled toothpaste wasted urine everywhere but the toilet Slow my anger, Lord when I am constantly interrupted my plans are thwarted my children misbehave and I feel embarrassed when I go without sleep without food without a moment of quiet Stoke my anger, Lord when children go without food,…

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A Prayer for Caregivers

A Prayer for Caregivers

God of boundless love, your care for us comes through the hands of others. Today we pray for all who do the hands-on work of love: those whose daily labor is in the home, those who care for young and old, those who tend bodies, minds, and hearts in need. We pray in a special…

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A Prayer for Traumatic Birth

A Prayer for Traumatic Birth

O God who sees my suffering,     who was present as my little one was brought forth     in the confused mixture of my great joy at their birth     and my great grief as our bodies spiraled out of control,  Your strength [can bring / has brought] [me / us] back from…

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A Prayer for the Mothers Who Have Lost a Child

A Prayer for Mother's Who Have Lost a Child

Abba Father, Our eyes are filled with tears, our bodies are weary, our hearts are angry, and we’re just so sad. We can’t seem to put together the incomplete pieces of a life that is so broken without our children.  Lord, help us to remember that You hear our cries, You see our tears, You…

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A Prayer for a Mother’s Anger

Mother's Anger

Abba, It is so easy to give in to the tension creeping up my neck, the tightness in my throat, and the hurt I’ve burrowed down deep. But what is not right is to unleash this hurt, these emotions I need to rightfully process with YOU, on my tiny humans. You don’t give me more…

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A Prayer for the Empty

A Prayer for the Empty

O Lord, to You who fill all things in every way, help me in this season of longing.   When I feel empty, fill me with Your abundant love. When I feel defeated, fill me with Your buoyant hope.   When I feel brokenhearted, fill me with Your comforting Spirit. When I feel angry, fill…

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A Prayer for Autism

A Prayer for Autism

Creator God, Lover of diversity of all kinds, all made perfectly in your image. Remind me daily how perfectly we were made imperfectly. Help me. Help me ride the tides of my son’s moods. Help me savor the moments when his autism allows him to be as calm as the smallest waves, gently lapping over…

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Our Lady of the Living Room Floor

Our Lady of the Living Room Floor

By the low light of the baby monitor, she removes her makeup and recalls the shining successes of her friends as they gathered around the table that night: their new jobs and promotions, the annual review meetings, the conference next week in California. At the far end of the table, she’d sat silently recalling her…

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Fill Us

god's fullness

All-present God who fills all things beyond what they can bear and spans the spaces in between, now fill the empty here. You who sustain us, give us food; our hungry stomachs fill. You made us and you called us good: Now hold us in your will. For you do not desire the death of…

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