May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. Psalm 20:1 Blessing others with our words and with our actions is a powerful form of prayer. When we express gratitude, we offer the prayer of blessing. When we affirm the gifts and the good we see in another person we offer the prayer of blessing. When we envision a hopeful future, we offer the prayer … [Read more...] about Blessing Others as Prayer
Search Results for: shame
Give Me the Grace
Give me the grace to care without neglecting my needs, the humility to assist without rescuing, the kindness to be clear without being cold, the mercy to be angry without rejecting, the prudence to disclose without disrespecting my privacy, the humor to admit human failings without experiencing shame, the compassion to give freely, fully, without selfish ambition or pride. —— In your … [Read more...] about Give Me the Grace
I Was Blind But Now I See
I sat holding myself as a child. Yet not a child at all, but a monster, unrecognizable as human. You came, Jesus, and stretched out your hand. “Ah,” I thought, “You will heal this child.” I looked at you, your hand reaching, your eyes twinkling. You were an artist at play. But your hand did not touch the monster child. Instead, you touched my adult eyes so I could see. So I could see this one on … [Read more...] about I Was Blind But Now I See
Your Gaze
You gazed at me, inviting me to gaze back into the ocean of your love. It was unbearable. I could not sustain a gaze. Only glances. Your love fell in waves against my shame and fear and pride, carrying away small segments a little at a time. It felt like certain death. And so it was. Little by little I died. I thought there would be nothing left. But you knew the seed of life you had once formed … [Read more...] about Your Gaze
Perfectly Loved
“I know things aren’t perfect,” she said as an aside, judging the imperfections she observed by harsh standards she holds herself and others to. The wonder, that I noticed with quiet celebration, Lord, was my ability to embrace this truth with gratitude. Not perfect. Yes. But no shame. Only quiet joy. Messy. Healing still. Not perfect. Yet perfectly loved by you. And resting in this, the deepest … [Read more...] about Perfectly Loved
Receiving
“You gave it me!?” “You gave it me!? Tanks!” Two years old, opening gifts from under the Christmas tree. Throwing his arms around us, his whole weight into us. Responding to each gift in gratitude’s full joy. Receiving. Free of worry or shame or hesitation. Receiving fully, the gift, the giver, the love. Giving back in the same moment as he took it all in. Fully, spontaneously giving himself, his … [Read more...] about Receiving
Show Up
Let us not become weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 Sometimes life is mostly about showing up. And sometimes that is not easy to do. My experience with cancer, much like my experience of healing from childhood trauma, was a long series of needing to show up. Showing up to take care of cancer means showing up for doctor’s appointments, tests and surgeries. In addition to these events, I was … [Read more...] about Show Up
Make Amends
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23 Throughout my experience with cancer I often prayed to be given the grace to be vulnerable. Sometimes I was granted this gift, but sometimes—I … [Read more...] about Make Amends
Know You Are Not Alone
I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 There was a very real sense in which breast cancer was not something that was just happening to me. It was happening to everyone in my life. But there was also a very real sense in which it was only happening to me. No one else was going through exactly what I was going through. Our suffering is always uniquely ours. I was the one who was facing surgery. I was … [Read more...] about Know You Are Not Alone
Meditate
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 Many of us have times when we our minds race. Our minds might randomly switch from one thought to another. Or repeatedly rehearse a future event. Or play a past event over and over. Sometimes our minds get fixed on one idea and miss everything else. Or our minds try … [Read more...] about Meditate