For The First Time ... And The Last (A Prayer of Gratitude)

Maybe it’s the unprecedentedly challenging times we find ourselves in, their juxtaposition with the spontaneous laughter of a little boy I heard coming from a nearby playground, the spectacularly beautiful sunset (shown above), a dear friend’s recent reflections on the passing of an open-hearted and selfless loved one who had lived a full life - or, more likely, some combination of them all - but on last night’s walk, I found myself overwhelmed by this simple thought: Whether our eyes, ears, hearts, arms, and minds have been truly “opened” for the first time or are opening for the last, there is important – soul healing – work to be done and lots to be grateful for. That thought resulted in this prayer:Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you ...For the eyes You opened today –to the stunning tapestry of another sunriseto marvel at the magnificence of Your creationto seek only what is good, true, and nobleto look beyond yesterday’s brokenness and misstepsto catch a glimpse of their soul’s eternal worthinessto see others’ scars (visible and invisible) with empathy -for the first time … and the last. Thank you …For the arms You opened today –to provide a place of refuge to a weary soulto embrace without expectation of something in returnto remind a wondering heart that it is cherished beyond measureto cradle a childto welcome a prodigal hometo provide the added support needed on the road to recovery -for the first time … and the last. Thank you …For the hearts You opened today -to let love into expel the darknessto offer and receive forgivenessto accept, without second-guessing, the gifts of reconciliation and redemptionto more fully embrace and express their servantshipto a moment of tenderness and self-acceptance -for the first time … and the last. Thank you ...For the ears You opened today –to listen without judgmentto discern what’s really being saidto hear the words “you matter” and “I love you”to welcome an “I forgive you”to capture Your whisperingsto get lost in the magic of a child’s laughter -for the first time … and the last. Thank you …For the minds You opened today –to the miracle that is our next breathto the magic that is a single heartbeatto child-like wonder of a bird in flightto the value of a single trusted friendto the healing power of a simple word of encouragementto the restorative warmth of a ray of sunlightfor the first time … and the last. And, Thank you ...For showering us today –with Your boundless gracewith Your inexhaustible mercywith forgiveness beyond our understandingwith unconditional lovewith the gifts of wisdom and discernmentand the hope of eternity spent in Your presence -from the beginning of time. Amen.