In December 2023, I wrote this prayer. My poetry is very much part of my spiritual journey and many of my poems are fundamentally a form of prayer. This one is a prayer of thanksgiving; of hope; of peace; of joy and of love.
At this time of year, no matter our faith, we are thankful.
Thankful for the gift of hope that both guides and inspires us to live our lives with possibility. In the face of loss, strife and/or hardship, and even the simple desire to be better, hope gives us the strength to persevere and to look beyond; to forgive and to learn; and to appreciate and to be gracious for today even as we look to tomorrow. May this gift serve as a foundation and remind us each of the importance of being the best we can be for ourselves, our community and our world.
Thankful for the gift of peace that forms itself both within us and with others as we seek to live with contentment, righteousness, humility and understanding. Peace of mind and heart grounds us, and inspires us to be grateful, and to grant us the strength to give space without judgement to others and to ourselves. Peace inspires each of us to go beyond ourselves as we understand the importance of diversity, the well-being of each other and all humanity, and the quality of the world in which we live. May this gift be present within each of us as we balance our mental, spiritual, economic, physical and emotional health, and may it serve to inform the souls and minds of those in positions of influence and power.
Thankful for the gift of joy that enables us each to bring passion and compassion to our lives and those around us; to celebrate and be gracious for the gifts bestowed upon us and others; and to smile, laugh, sing and dance. Joy lives in our souls and is constantly looking for means of expression in celebration of gratitude, the overcoming of challenges, and the ways in which we nurture our talents and gifts be it at work or play. May this gift be expressed as by angels with arms outstretched to others, voices joined in song, and being kind to each other.
Thankful for the gift of love that lives within each of us and which is there to shape the manner in which we live our lives with family, friends, strangers and even those with whom we struggle and differ. Love is complex in that we may let it be defined by others and yet, it is simple. Love comes from within each of us and we are each born with no limits to this greatest of gift of all. May this gift inform our daily interactions and our words and actions as we strive to live with respect, forgiveness and understanding.
Thankful for the gift of life with all of its ups and downs, bumps and curves. We acknowledge the many gifts bestowed upon us and that living our lives means finding it within ourselves to respond to challenges with graciousness and strength. We are grateful for the opportunity to be here, to make a difference and to serve in a way that makes this world a better place for all of us. May our lives and our living be expressed in the hope, peace, joy and love we nurture for ourselves and give to others during this holiday season and every day beyond.
Amen.