Prayers and chants
Prayers and Chants: February 28, 2015
One morning (see Mostly I Just Listen) I decided that I should write the prayers I was hoping I'd find in the prayer book. So without further ado, here are:
- Thanksgiving for Relentless and Annoying Offspring
- Song for a Harried Morning
- Chant to Recover One's Equilibrium Before Leaving the House
Thanksgiving for Relentless and Annoying Offspring
Lord, in your wisdom you have given us mothers and fathers Sisters and brothers Neighbors and friends Co-workers and strangers Plants and animals And O my God, children.
O, the blessed children.
Thank you for the children in our homes, the children in our midst, the children in line in front of us.
Thank you for other people’s children and especially for our own.
You instructed us to approach you as little children: Relentless. Determined. Focused. Hungry. Tired. Desirous.
You gave us boundaries: Love one another. Honor your father and mother. Wash your hands and feet.
Let us, by your example, honor and guide the children in our midst. Grant us patience and far-sightedness: Open our eyes to the fleeting beauty of single-minded childhood Even as we seek to instill virtues of community and consequences. Grant us wisdom and remind us to take deep breaths: May we see the need beneath the demand; the opportunity in the challenge Even as we change lanes or tactics or plans or our minds.
Grant us humor and solace: Guide us in our decisions when our children are relentless, determined, focused, hungry, tired and desirous Even as we are sleep-deprived, pulled in too many directions and hungry ourselves.
Keep us in your eternal care: Receive us as little children Suffering our faults and guiding our actions That we may receive our own children With your perfect love and grace. Amen.
Song for a Harried Morning (sung to Nicaea)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty/ Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee. / Holy moly, sweetie, why must you oppose me? /Please finish breakfast in time to brush your teeth.
Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee, /Still we need to clothe our frames before we may be free /To get into the car seat with our books and toys / Don’t forget your lunch box, where’d you put my keys?
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, / Help me to be kind today and keep my sanity. / Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty, /Please hear my prayer that Thy will, not mine, may be.
Chant to Recover One’s Equilibrium before Leaving the House
(sung to Ubi Caritas)
Grant your peace upon All those within this house / May we heed your call Together and alone.
