Prayers
Holy Family Prayer
Sometimes I ask St. Joseph to stand in the room with a brother or son or father I know who is going through something hard, or lonely, or maybe even unspeakable. I ask St. Joseph to place his calming, patient, loving hand upon the person’s shoulder so that they may know he is not alone.…
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Arm the Children
Arm the children Arm them with a passion for life and each other. Arm them with gorgeous humans who consistently show up. Arm them with some sort of relationship to the Divine. Arm the children with beautiful experiences and honest ones, too. Arm them with gratitude, an ample dose of optimism and hope, the ability…
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Motherhood is a Prayer Breathed Out
Something I believe. . . Motherhood is Weighty and wonderful, Sometimes monotonous and boring, But also exciting and spontaneous, While being grievous and frustrating. It’s both stretching and structured, Straightforward and confusing, Tiresome and energizing, Painful and healing, Draining and lifegiving, Hopeful and despairing. // It’s playing the long game Though your finish line will…
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Prayer After Miscarriage
FOR THE WEEK AFTER MISCARRIAGE “Out of the depths I call to you, Lord; Lord, hear my cry!” (Ps 130:1–2) God of mercy, hear our prayer. From the depths of our grief, answer us. Our hearts break at the loss of our child. Our minds struggle to understand. Just days ago we held the hope…
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Nothing but Mother
After birth, I am all at once at home and out of place. Every task now a luxury of time. I want to spend all day with the baby, I want to spend all day alone. This month I have done nothing but mother, my body given in service to a tiny human I just…
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A Water Prayer
Nourishing God, You make water spring forth from the rock. We come to you hot and thirsty. We praise You for the many ways we are refreshed, body and soul, by the gift of water. The rush of running through a sprinkler, or wading ankle-deep in a mountain stream, is a delight to the senses!…
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A Blessing for the September Mother
A Blessing for the September Mother: Who doesn’t make enough memories Or lives for the bucket list Who misses the first day of school Or performs acrobatics to get it off work Who holds milestones and grief in the same hand Or relishes in routine Who feels nauseous with anxiety Or notices she can breathe again Who despises making packed…
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The Days Ahead: A Reminder for the Changing of Seasons
I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. So when I see a trial an unexpected struggle an unfamiliar season a potentially hard thing anything new anything I’m not used to headed my way and uncomfortably close, when I see it and become tempted to hoard manna I remember: The Bread of life…
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An Easter Prayer
God of new life, In this season of resurrection, help us to look for the little miracles. Shatter our disillusionment when the big miracles fail to materialize before us – Break through with your consolation when our Lazarus isn’t raised from the dead, Break through with Your mercy when our children aren’t healed, Break through…
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A Prayer for a Mother’s Creative Work
For mother-artists, writers, crafters and creators. Know that your work is holy, both in your art and with your family! God, I come to you today With a thousand prayers— For peace, for quiet, For inspiration and motivation, For the chance to meet You In the sacred space of creation. In this time You have…
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A Prayer for Mental Health as a Mom
Father, Thank You for being the God who sees. The God who knows. The God who cares. Thank You that You see me, Your beloved daughter, in my frailty. Thank You that You know everything about me— including my internal struggles that threaten to strangle the life out of me. Thank You that You care…
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As A Mother With Her Children
A Song of St. Anselm Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you; you are gentle with us as a mother with her children. Often you weep over our sins and our pride; tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment. You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds; in sickness…
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