Peace Archives - Parents Prayers

Still mindful of a day of infamy

12/7/04 Our Father, we are mindful of this day in our nations’ history and offer our prayers of thanks to all who served on our behalf. We pray too for our troubled world and those who continue to pursue Peace. Remind us that peace is not possible without each of us being willing to forgive and live with one another. Amen

Today’s prop is Dad’s 1944 Senior Book, from Norwood High School. He is the one peeping over the middle of the card, with a cryptic “Where you going boy?” written across the top margins. Others just signed their names. Is this Dad’s handwriting? I don’t know. I know he was anxious to serve. So much so that he signed up against his parents wishes.

How many of these faces perished in WWII? Again, I have no clue. But my father probably knew.

He went on one of the last Honor Flights for WWII veterans. When I find the photos, I will share. He literally beams.

Having the hospice team bring in their veterans service to his bedside was a day I will cherish.

Days of infamy, days of joy…who knew that the original text was something far less pointed and far more trite.

We all edit our work.

As Dad would close all his letters,

“Peace!”

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/PTO/Dip/Infamy.html

An annotated version of the speech, showing the original wording “a date which will live in world history”

Always a reason to hope

9/17 Our Father, as our nation and our world face still another day of anxiety we pray that there is some reason for hope – that a process for peaceful agreements is underway and that your will may prevail. Amen

I don’t know specifically what agreements were underway in our world at the time Dad wrote this prayer. It could have been international or national. I do know God’s will prevails, we just don’t see it.

Reaching out to others more often

9/12/06 Our Father, we too remember that day and share our compassion for those who still grieve and sorrow. And in our remembering remind us to reach out to others more often – to practice living in peace with ourselves first – and to have a larger vision for Peace here on earth. Amen

An earlier prayer spoke of “peace with ourselves,” I didn’t get it at the time. I think “ourselves” is a corporate we, the citizens of this country. We don’t do so well getting along with people from the same country, let alone across the world. Yet, reaching out to others is a small step to work toward a big vision. Sometimes our vision needs to be stretched beyond what we’re used to thinking it should be.

I want to have a larger vision.

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?

Peace

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