A Prayer for Naming Our Pain

A Guest Liturgist Post with Liturgies for Parents

Hello ♡,

I am pushing the boundaries of the “in between” nature of this newsletter. We are almost to next week. But that is typical of May, isn’t it?

I had something in the works for you this week, but this is too special not to share. I had the honor of writing a prayer as a guest liturgist for Liturgies for Parents, by Kayla Craig. If you are looking for beauty, hope, nurturing and grounding wisdom in this aching world - Kayla’s work is a refuge. (Find her newsletter here.)

Here is my Prayer for Naming Our Pain

When we're hurting

In ways we don’t understand,

When we’re turned around

And confused,

God, please lead us home.


When we've been

Wearing labels

That are not our own,

Assigned to us in pain,

Remind us who we are.


Hold our hearts,

Lift our heads.

Both heavy with pain,

Surrounded by pain.



Lead us back

To the place

Where You’ve been

Waiting for us.

Help us hear

You calling us.



Lead us back

To the knowing –

Knowing the

True names

You gave us.

Help us hear

You calling us.



Give us wisdom,

Give us strength

To name our pain,

Even if we can't yet

Stop the pain.

May we separate

Who we are

From the names

Our pain has called us.



And in that clarity,

May we hear

The familiar song,

The one we thought

We’d forgotten,

Of you calling us who we are –

That we are Loved, Beloved, Heard, and Valued,

Seen, Adored, Known, and Cherished.



May we learn to extend

This grace to others.

May we refuse to agree

With what pain has called them,

and agree instead with

Who love says they are.

Amen.

Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash

With you,

Monica

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Book News!

Well, it is really out there now! I have LOVED hearing what resonates with people. Some are surprises, others are not. Some things readers like I had to fight to keep in the book, and I am glad I did. Overall, hearing that readers are feeling seen and met by the book is the greatest joy. That is what I hoped.

Thank you to each of you who have written reviews!! It means the world to me.

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