Grief sneaks up on me,
cunningly disguising itself
so I can’t see it coming.
Or maybe I see through its costumes
and just don’t want to accept
that it’s still here,
dragging at the corners of my spirit,
masking the colors around me,
dimming my hope, my joy.
I don’t want to be sad
when the world is so shiny with tinsel
and the music calls for holiday cheer.
And then, finally,
I turn toward grief
and open my heart.
Grief and I embrace,
weeping,
into the night.
The dawn is breaking after the longest night
And my heart lightens, too
With hope, with peace,
With the knowledge that
To you, “The night is as bright as the day,
“For darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139).
Light the corners of grief,
The alleyways of terror,
The dark places of hatred.
Soften up the hardened systems of injustice,
The marble halls of power, blind to need.
Send justice and peace
To our troubled world.
Send comfort and healing
To our hurting hearts.
This day, tomorrow, always.
Find more of my prayers in my book Christ Beside Me, Christ Before Me: Celtic Blessings.
God’s peace to you in the twilight,
in the long winter night.
God’s comfort to you in the sadness,
in the mournful places of your soul.
God’s courage to you in your weakness,
facing turmoil facing trial.
God’s love to you in your pain,
in the sadness of the small one who weeps inside of you.
God’s presence to you in your loneliness,
in the dark, empty corners of your heart.
God’s peace, God’s comfort, God’s love,
God’s blessing be yours.
Find more of my prayers in my book Christ Beside Me, Christ Before Me: Celtic Blessings.
All the Wonders 