ah, today a short & sweet blog post, yeah! are you relieved? since i only post a few times a week i am well aware i always squeeze in more than average in a single post! sorry, it’s a metaphor for my life….
for the past 6 weeks or so at our sunday evening gatherings at the refuge we have been having conversations & experiences related to knowing more deeply our true identity in christ. my extremely wise and talented friend & refuge teammmate christa romig-leavitt wrote a beautiful closing prayer that she, her husband paul & our friend amber read together. there’s no way i can capture the simple beauty of three powerful voices–men & women alongside–reading this in parts out on the patio after a fun casual dinner & conversation around the tables, but i thought it was lovely & wanted to share it beyond our own little world. we posted it on the refuge blog, too, so for some it’s a duplicate but i know there are different readers in both places. enjoy.
oh God,
the most high, the loveliest, the creator of creation.
have you created me in your image?
do i look like you?
do i have your mouth?
give me your mouth, that i may speak your words and breath your breath
do i have your eyes?
give me your eyes, to see you in all others and look with love into all other eyes
i hope i have your hands,
to hug and hold.
to work and plant seeds of joy and peace.
to plant food to feed the hungry
to plant trees to shelter the homeless
i want to look like you God…
because…
i want to be your child.
i think i am your child.
am i your aroma?
am i your daughter?
am i your son?
am i a treasure?
am i your bride?
do you think me that beautiful? that you could love me forever?
help me trust
learn
know
that you have vowed to make me your bride
help me be a bride to you. loving you all my days and wanting you in all ways.
help me remember that i am wanted.
i am wanted.
i am wanted. because…
you want me.
and that means that i am
worthylovableamazing
the crazy thoughts in my head donʼt matter.
the flab under my arms donʼt matter.
the confusion in my heart donʼt matter.
because
i am a child of God. birthed by love.
oh God,
father. mother.
thank you for my self. this very self inside and out that you have made me and given me.
help me to love you as no one has ever loved you.
help me to love others as no one has ever loved them.
help me to be you as fully as i can. because
you are my God.
i am your child.
amen.