a prayer

Your Aunt Jates sent this to me, and I read it during my morning meditation. I’ve edited and added to make it my prayer for you, daughter.

adapted from aholyexperience.com by Ann Voskamp

Father who breathed into this daughter…

I pray for this girl being formed into eternity….

May the wind always be in her hair

May the sky always be wide with hope above her

And may all the hills be an exhilaration

…the trials but a trail,

…all the stones but stairs to God.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of grace
Grace, the only dress that makes beautiful,
the style of Your spirit.
…
Enclose her in communion with You
You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart into a roof
that absorbs storms for souls,
that makes her tongue speak only the words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation

Translating every enemy into esteemed guest
Translating every countenance into the face of God
Translating every burden into blessing

When it’s hard to be patient… make her willing to suffer
When it’s ridiculous to be thankful… make her see all is grace
When it’s radical to forgive… make her live the foundation of our faith
And when it’s time to work… make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and her laughter
May she be thread and mend brokeness and knit hearts
May she be dead to all ladders and never go higher, only lower, to the lonely, the least and the longing

Oh, and raise me, God, from the limitations of my own spirit to love this beautiful girl like You do…

Thank you for this sweet little girl blessing.

Amen…