Parents Prayers

Prayers of My Parents Written on Index Cards

Grace

Your Grace is Forever

2/1/05 Our Father, we pray again for your blessing on this gathering. We thank you for prayers answered – for family and friends – for Amila’s return – for blessings we often take for granted. Encourage us to look beyond ourselves – to accept the shortcomings of others and to know your Grace is forever.

Moving this recipe box from my line of sight has triggered a few missed opportunities. I can’t post what Dad or Mom has written if I don’t see it. I can’t see what is out of my range of view. If it results in staying out of my mind and off my radar, for a good end…how much better for a selfish one.

Looking beyond ourselves could work the same, I reckon. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Put no evil before my eyes, that I sin not against you.

If I am constantly looking at something it is in sharp focus, sometimes even macro focus. Too much information indeed.

But Our heavenly Father’s Grace is forever.

I love that Dad almost always capitalized Grace, it is a proper name.

It is proper.

Recognizing the Source

1/4/05 Our Heavenly Father hear still another prayer for those so devastated by disaster. Touch and grace the families who have lost loved ones – sustain and support those who have survived and help them cope with tomorrow. And help those of us who are so blessed to recognize our Grace comes from you. Amen

Being blessed includes recognizing the Source of blessings, the Source of grace. Recognizing only happens when my eyes have been opened previously and I see, now again, with familiar eyes. I am reacquainted. I am reminded where my strength resides.

We alone are not sufficient

12/16/17 Our Father,  though cheered by the news of the day, keep us humble and responsible.  Remind us that our pursuit of world peace involves others, that boasting and conceit accomplish little – that we alone are not sufficient- that your Grace is needed and welcomed.  Amen 

I am reminded, once more, there is nothing new under the sun. Mankind has been living in a state where we must pursue peace for a long time.

Man has always boasted and been conceited for individual accomplishments.

Did this get written yesterday? No year is given, but it sounds familiar.

On our own we can accomplish nothing, or, we fail to accomplish, or simply, we fail.

A hard pill to swallow, but easily remedied when we put others first and rely on your Grace to guide and accompany us on this earthly walk to accomplish Your will, not mine.

Living in peace with ourselves

9/5/06 Our Father in heaven – we thank you again for the opportunities of life here on earth – for your caring and grace and your patience with us. Help us to be equally forgiving and trusting of others and to live in peace with ourselves. Amen

Two things really surprised about this prayer: it was not given at church (it was a Tuesday date) and initially Dad had written; “live in peace with others.” He scratched that out to make it read, “live in peace with ourselves. ”

Dad didn’t scratch out words too often, but when he did the end result was always more intense, and insightful.

How do we live in peace with ourselves? How do we guard against warring elements? How do we coexist (picture that bumper sticker) only all the symbols are the pieces of ourselves we try to sweep under the carpet or hide on a shelf, hoping they’ll expire like something beyond its date in the grocery store. Like the grocery store, our hidden sides get worse and deteriorate, until they must be removed from the places we’ve tucked them away, because they reek.

Is that what Dad meant, to live in peace with ourselves? To clean house? Or, to be at least on speaking terms with the things we’ve been through that have caused us torment. Maybe, it is walking in acceptance and realization of all of our flaws. Not being afraid of them. Humbled and patient with ourselves.

I don’t know. What do you think?

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