Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A No-Panic Advent, Part XII: A Prayer

Dear Lord,

When I become harried
and impatient,
when I think I have too much to do
and not enough time,
when I feel burdened
by obligations,
responsibilities,
activities and
busy-ness,
please, Lord,
give me the grace to remember,
always to remember,
that my obligations,
responsibilities,
activities and busy-ness
spring from
an abundance of blessings.
Enormous, ineffable blessings.
Help me to see my busy days
and busy ways
as the privilege and the gift
that they are.

Help me to remember, pray for,
and tangibly support
those who are not "burdened"
by too much to eat,
too much to bake,
too much to decorate,
too many books to read.

Help me, Lord, to see the Advent of Your birth
as a time to remember all of these things,
to drop to my knees and thank You,
always to thank You,
for so much undeserved Love.

3 comments:

Lynch Family said...

perfect timing, perfect prayer, thank you

Melanie Bettinelli said...

Thanks, Karen. I needed that prayer so much. How easy it is to turn a blind eye to our blessings, to see them as burdens. Well, and even if they are, then it is also a blessing to carry the cross.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I too, needed to read this prayer tonight...I've started to feel spread thin...this prayer puts much in perspective. thanks, Karen