Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Dear God,

What shapes our insides, O Lord? What forces are at work within us? What causes us to give away part of ourselves in order to look, talk, or sound like someone else?

How do we give life to your design for us? How do we accept the person you created each of us to be? How do we step inside the body prepared, the mind preserved, and the soul open and ready for expression? How do we acknowledge the beauty that is our own selves if for no other reason than to believe that we have been made in your image?

As I observe life around me, I wonder how much better life would be for all if we each simply received the gifts you have given us and lived into them. I wonder what it would look like if we simply were who we are rather than who we wished we were. Perhaps then we would not focus on what we were missing or who has what we wanted. Perchance there would be no jealousy, no coveting behaviors that rob us of what little we believe ourselves to be. Maybe we would simply be images of you.

Help us,
in our frailties
and flaws,
O God,
to realize
the gifts
we have
been given.
Teach us gratitude,
I pray,
and give
us courage
to shape
and mould
our person
in your image.
Let our
inner beauty
radiate your light
and love.

Forever yours, Andrea