November 24, 2021
Perhaps the Hardest Prayer to Pray: A Prayer
O Lord, perhaps the hardest prayer to pray
is a prayer
that gives thanks
on behalf of others,
because
it can feel so dishonest,
saying right-sounding words supposed to say,
putting words in the mouths of others;
so much depends on
where people are in their lives,
what has happened to them,
what they are feeling;
for some
things
going well,
going smoothly,
going their way,
and so,
thankfulness
comes easy,
comes naturally,
comes almost
automatically;
but for others
things
not going well,
not going smoothly,
not going their way,
everything gone wrong,
and so,
thankfulness
not come easy,
not come naturally,
not come
automatically, maybe
not come at all;
and so,
hard to know
what to say,
what to pray,
what is the way
to pray a prayer
giving thanks
that is
not dishonest,
not a supposed-to-pray-prayer,
not a repeat-after-me-prayer.
O Lord, the best I can come up with is a prayer that prays
that we each of us
would pray our own prayer,
in our own words and way;
that if
things are
going well, going smoothly, going our way,
we would do more than
give a quick nod
in your direction
for blessings received,
but
give thanks
for you,
the Giver
of all good things;
not easy,
automatic thanks,
but
true thanks,
thanks
that recognizes our dependence on you,
your grace and mercy, your
forgiveness;
or
if things are
not going well, not going smoothly, not going our way,
things gone all wrong,
still,
we would somehow
thank you,
thank you for
the strength that comes,
the help that comes,
the love that comes,
that sees us through from one day to the next;
thank you for
raising us up
again and again
out of darkness and despair;
healing us
again and again
in the way most
needed;
comforting us
again and again,
life returning;
and
no matter how things are going, we all of us would
thank you
because
again and again
you deliver us
out of our sin and folly, and
again and again
you deliver us
unto hope, and
again and again
you deliver us
even when you have every reason not to.
And Lord, may we each find our own words and way to
give thanks
for family and friends (many together again at last),
the unexpected kindness of strangers,
the love of so many;
give thanks
for our nation,
this land of ours,
beautiful and free,
despite the turmoil and problems and uncertainty,
so thankful
that we would
work together
to make it
a more perfect union;
give thanks
for the laughter
and little things
that bring joy to a day,
and for the day itself,
this day
that might
not have been.
And we pray, O Lord, for those for whom tomorrow could be
especially hard,
those who are battling cancer and other illnesses,
those who are suffering,
those who are dying,
those who are grieving,
those who are struggling
financially, and
those without food or home or family,
no one to gather with.
In their fear or sadness or pain,
be with them;
heal and sustain and help them;
lift them in hope,
even thankfulness;
and move us
to be a blessing
to them.
O Lord, it’s the best I can do, simply
pray
that each of us would
give thanks
in our own way
day after day,
until
gratitude
is a habit
of our heart
and every day
is a Day
of
Thanksgiving.
Amen.