Today, a prayer:
A Litany for Children
One - O Holy One, we come before you with our prayers and petitions. As your children we seek your providence, protection, and power. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - “For unto us, a child is born,” a child, your son, our savior. For the coming of Jesus, his staying, and his leaving, we give you thanks. For his coming to bring peace, we give thanks. For his dwelling among us as a living image of you, we give thanks. For his leaving to prepare a table to share with us forever, we give thanks. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Almighty One, we know that not all children have been so longed for, so welcomed, so blessed. We bring before you those Jepthahs, those children who know not their fathers, or whose fathers will not accept them. Use us to bring them to you, Lord, so they may receive your acknowledgment as their true father. Bless them, protect them, Lord, in your mercy
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Steadfast One, too many Tamars, too many children know love and abuse, confused because the two are falsely linked by those who live with them. May the truth, however difficult, be known and acted upon by those who need to know it. May the truth of your steadfast love, pure and self-emptying, be known by these precious little ones. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Loving One, we bring before you those Ishmaels, the children taken beyond the bounds of safety, past the point of reasonable patience, all because of familial battles. Too often the foolishness in the lives of their parents protects the unfaithful or the untruthful and deprives the innocent and powerless. O Faithful One, keep these children in the promise of your love and providence. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Sending One, you see those widows of Zarephath and their children. You alone know how many children have only a mother, a mother with precious little in resources, but a heart full of love and faith. Send your servants, O Lord, to walk beside them so that, just at the right time, your providence arrives. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Divine One, may our children be loved as Samuel was loved: longed for; prayed for; cared for; yet inevitably, sent forth, all to do your bidding and to glorify your Holy name. Lord, in your mercy,
Many - Hear our prayer.
One - O Holy One, like a mother you have drawn us to your breast, like a father you have guarded us through the night. Lord, as we have asked you as the Divine Parent to love and provide for all these, your children,
Many - So help us to love and provide for those children you have sent to us.
One - In the name of your precious child, Jesus, we petition you,
Many - Amen.
Blessings,
Ron
