A Prayer

Lord, open our hearts and minds
    to the strange and precious gift
    you’ve given us this day.
Life is more than a book, with pages we can count,
    more than a movie, that can be passively watched,
    from beginning to end.

Lord, we thank you for the chance to struggle,
    to cry, to laugh, and to grow.
Help us to bear the hard times, but even more,
strengthen us to accept the good times,
    to seek out and enjoy the little treasures buried in each day.

Help us to love each other for what we are,
    to make good choices about what we will become,
    to use our gifts and our talents for a purpose greater than ourselves.

Nourish the seeds of faith and confidence,
    seeds sown over many years in many places,
    that we can grow stronger from our experiences
    both as individuals and as a family.

In the name of all that is Holy,
    stay with us always, now and forever. Amen.

         (07/16/05          cet **!!**)