A Prayer for My Mama

Gracious God, thank you for the warmth I felt just now as I made the short walk home from Mom & Dad's house...for the sunlight and the clear blue sky, for the hint of spring in the air--a reminder that you are at work, making all things new. Thank you for this day and the many things that it has held--for worship this morning, for visits with friends along the way, and for the genine care and concern that those friends have shown for Mom, for me, and for our family, today and in the past few weeks.

Thank you, most of all, though, for Mom...for the mother she has been all these years, and the mother that she continues to be. Help her to know your peace, to feel your comfort, and to rest in the knowledge of your love and your care for her THIS day. Rest her worries and ease her fears about the tomorrows to come, reminding her as she has so often reminded me that she can do ALL things through you, and that her strength will come, as needed, from you. Hold her hand, God, and gently guide her through these next few weeks and months, giving her the strength she needs, the strength she wants, to continue to live her life to the fullest. Give her energy and motivation to share and laugh and reminisce with those who come to visit.

She is brokenhearted, God. Her heart aches for the things the she thinks she will miss in the years to come. Heal her heart, and help her to trust that you are greater than time and space. When her mind insists on thinking about the future, give her the courage, the excitment, even to begin to embrace the great unknown parts of death that so many fear. Keep her sure in the knowledge that YOU, not death, will have the final say, and that the final say is abundant, eternal Life. While we don't have any idea what that will look like, help us, help Mom, to trust in that great promise even though it is beyond mysterious to us.

Death will not come today or tomorrow, or even next week for Mom, God, so help her to keep her eyes and her heart focused on the here & now. Keep her ever-mindful of the many people whose lives she has touched over the years, and help her to be at peace with those many people being present with and for HER now. Help her realize that by allowing others to "do" for her, she is giving them a great gift....the gift of being pray-ers and card-writers and caregivers and friends.

And finally, Lord, be with those who continue to pray for and support us, both near and far. Help them to know that their prayers mean a great deal to us, that their prayers keep us going on days when we don't think we can take another step down this awful, dreadful road. Give them strength to continue the prayers, the gentle reminders of their love and support. It is the threads of those people that have formed the net that is below us--the net that will catch us when we fall, and thrust us even higher and closer to you.

This is a big prayer, but I pray it with boldness and with confidence that you are listening, and that you can, that you WILL, send the peace that passes all understanding to my sweet Mama now and in the days ahead.

It is in the name of your Son that this daughter prays....Amen.