Sometimes our needs are really quite simple. Deep within us, our desires truly speak of something good. We just don’t hear them often, maybe because of fear, or our willingness to face whatever difficulties we need to face in order to reach them.
They need to be awakened however, so we can live full and meaningful lives. We need to hear what it is we truly, deeply, and sincerely desire.
Lord, from you comes indeed the words of life. I write not out of my own knowledge. I write not out of my own whims. Everything I write I jot down only in behalf of you. For it is you O Lord who speaks unto me your wisdom and it is you O Lord who reveals unto me the truth. How I desire to share the things you taught me. How I pray to make known your beauty and your saving grace. Yet wretched instrument that I am, how often do I fail to reflect the Light that has come upon me. How my words fall short of the eloquence of your thoughts. I am weighed down by the darkness that still looms within me. By fears that shake the strokes of my pen. How then shall others understand? How then shall lives be touched and changed?
It is no wonder people laugh at my works and make a joke of my labors. They find all the wrong things about it and discourage me all the time for my useless pursuit. Some were courteous enough to stay silent, but I know that they read them not as well. They turn a few pages and soon fall soundly asleep. They pretend to have read it yet says not anything they learned from it. They think I’m crazy trying to do what I do. They think I waste my time with toils from which I profit not.
Yet do I waste my time indeed? And what is the profit I should seek? Is it not to be content in your Holy Presence? Is it not to learn each day from you? Is it not the healing of my own wounds as you give me words that soothe the pain of my own heart? For the gift you have given me is thy gift to me indeed. Even before its fragrance blesses others, your perfume anoints me and gives me joy I can never exchange for any profit that this world knows of. You have blessed me indeed. You have been patient with my blunders. You have given me your smile as I pushed on.
O Dear Father, let me not give up now. Help me as I hone your gifts night and day. Renew my strength as I tread the path that is both lonesome and rought, as I face struggles that are truly great and long. And if I should offer my own blood with which to write down every word, let me offer it willingly and joyfully as you have offered your own. Let me weep not for my own pain. Let me not complain for my own cross. For it is through suffering that others may be relieved, through my own wounds that others may be healed. And it is through this cross that hopes will be rekindled, bringing forth the good news of a brand new day. Amen.
Dear Jesus, they say that the world is so beautiful and it is just a pity that I couldn’t see it. They say that there are so many wonderful colors around, colors that make you happy and that brightens up your day. They exclaim, “What a beautiful sunrise!” or “What a magnificent sunset!”, and then they tell me just how much they wanted to share those things to me. And I believe they are able to, Jesus. They are able to share their happiness with me even if they’re not able to share their eyes. And I am grateful to them. I thank you for all the wondrous gifts you have given us in this world.
Dear Father, the noise of the world is too great; the demands of the day too high. Things are happening so fast that they are over even before I begin to realize that they have come. I don’t know anymore which of the things I do makes any sense at all. I don’t know anymore where I am going though too often I find myself rushing about so much, afraid that I might be left behind if I care to find a single moment of peace.
And yet this time I can no longer drag myself into the chaos where I chose to live. Cup after cup of brewed coffee could no longer give me the energy I need to finish loads and loads of paperwork that lay upon my desk. I pray to you dear Father. I pray for the peace you have promised us, a peace that transcends all understanding, a peace that never shatters with the most troubling shadows of the night. Silence the worries that lurk upon my mind, the fears that have only driven me to burnout and stress.
In this moment of prayer, let there be silence. Let there be peace. Free me from my fears and calm my shaking nerves. Let me see clearly that which really matters in life. I offer you everything, that in my nothingness I may find all that I need. Your Presence is all that I need O God, and in your Holy Presence there is peace.
Dear Lord, I have just come from a family reunion, and they have asked me again whence I shall be finally settling down. Yes, Lord, each time they see me they would ask me the same old question, and I would say the same answer: “I don’t know”. Sometimes I don’t want to answer them anymore. Sometimes I just want to tell them to mind their own business. But I know that would not be pleasing to you. And that would only hurt the people who are only concerned that I finally find my happiness.
But really Lord, I do get tired of these questions. And I do get hurt sometimes when people judge me whenever they don’t hear the response they want. They tend to think I’m too picky, that my standards are too high, that I’m a difficult person to put up with, that I’m just too selfish to be able to commit myself to someone and be responsible for my own family. At other times there is even a look of pity in their eyes as though I’ve been overlooked a hundred times by eligible me over someone more attractive, more loving and more adorable. It’s as though my personality and worth had been measured by a single prejudicial criteria – that I’m still single.
Lord, I must admit I do have a desire to find that special person in my life. One whom I shall love; one who will love me in return; one with whom I can raise a happy family; one who will grow with me spiritually and journey with me in this beautiful life you have given us all. I wait for that person O God and I pray for him. I pray that he grow in wisdom and in love so he can be the head of our household when the right time comes. But before that opportune time, before that blessed time you have willed dear Lord, I pray that you lead me away from temptation that I may come upon your altar clean and ready as an offering for the man you have prepared for me. I pray for the patience to wait for that time, and I pray for the hope that never wavers in dark and lonely times.
I pray Lord, that I may grow into a beautiful woman right where I am today, bringing light and inspiration to those that come my way. May I be able to use the talents and gifts you have given me and may I be able to bring love and joy and peace wherever your hand will lead me at the time I possess right now. I am a single woman O Lord, yet I am not alone. I am still to build my own family, but that doesn’t make my life right now any less meaningful nor beautiful. You are the One who upholds me, and you are the One who gives me joy wherever I may be.