Over the past week, my heart has been heavy, weighed down with the pain of loved ones. For the pain of those in Haiti, for those who lost beloved friends and family in the earthquake, like our friends L & S and their four children. And for my friend S---- about whom I wrote a poem yesterday. And a dear lady from our church "went home" to the Lord this morning. Yes, a heavy, heavy heart.
As I knelt down to pray this morning (I still would *adore* having a real prie dieu like the one above to pray on!), I found myself especially moved by the words of John Baillie in his classic book A Diary of Private Prayer, a book I use on a daily basis as part of my devotion to prayer.
From the Twenty-Seventh Day, Morning:
O Lord my God, who dwellest in pure and blessed serenity beyond the reach of mortal pain, yet lookest down in unspeakable love and tenderness upon the sorrowsof earth, give me grace, I beseech Thee, to understand the meaning of such afflictions and disappointments as I myself am called upon to endure. Deliver me from all fretfulness. Let me be wise to draw from every dispensation of Thy providence the lesson Thou art minded to teach me. Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee.
Glory be to Thee, O Father, and to Thee, O Christ, and to Thee, O Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
3 comments:
The of this year has been tough. I hear it from many people. I just heard of a young girl whose leukemia came back after 10 years and is now in an end of life situation. Also, two boys we know are now in hospice. I just keep praying for their families and know that even though it is tragic from our perception, there must be greater plan.
You are so kind to have such concern for others. I hope you don't let the pain weigh you down too much. I'm sure prayer lifts that weight from you even as it will do for them.
Beautiful prayer.
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