june twenty-third . two thousand nine
I pray, tonight, for individuality, and for grace and patience to honor one another's needs.
I feel that, this day, there is backdrop of loving intolerance; of missed communication and sadness of separation. I see, in myself and my own family, a constant lack of presence of mind to see ourselves as flawed, incompletely kind, not quite thoughtful. I seek, in myself first and fully, a round, deep sense of love and patience towards those around me. A broadcast of kindness. A wide-open seeing, listening, how my voice sounds in their ears, where the empathy falls in each conversation. First. It should be first.
I pray that you will give us empathy, that you will show us ever more stunningly how much, much empathy is in our children, how much love, that you will let us reflect that, magnify, expound, illuminate, celebrate them, their gifts.
Thank you for them. Thank you for deep brown eyes and easy laughs and the adult that is Everett, always sorry if we're angry, always hungry for attention, always in need of us, looking him in eyes, listening to him.
God, give me time to listen, give me the eyes to see their beauty, give me peace before I speak. Give me gratitude for them, even when it is hard, give me grace, let me always know how lucky I am.