A prayer from Paw Creek

Jane, thanks so much for sharing this prayer written by Rev. Gary Bryant, the pastor at Paw Creek Presbyterian Church in N.C. It's a good one to pray anytime, but especially at the start of a day:

"Good morning, Lord. I hope you're going to have a good day today. I'm usually so full of requests and needs when I pray to you that it must seem like some grown-up letter to Santa asking for things on my wish list. But not today...today I want to pray for you and your day.

Today, Lord, I hope you get some of the things you're wishing for. As you go through this day with us, may you be pleasantly surprised that some of your children who have been running away from you, stop and turn toward you, even if only briefly.

May someone who has been determined to live life their way, turn to you and say, "Help me." May some of us who think we have life figured out, realize we need your input.

May some of us who are judgmental about others, open up our hearts to express your mercy to someone else who is struggling. May someone find the strength today to say"No" to a demon taht plagues them. May someone who has succumbed to a bad habit be able to turn away from it.

May those whose bodies or minds or spirits are down, be lifted up and out of the depths of despair. May those in relatiosnhips discover, or re-discover, why they love each other. Even if just for today, may our marriage vows bind us, our familiy ties enfold us, our love enrich us, and our faith in each other hold us together.

may those who are weary of meaningless jobs and the everyday struggle of having enough income to get by, notice those around us who are exhausted and have even less. May you pelople take the lead today in welcoming outcasts, providing for the helpless and offering hope to the hopeless.

Lord, may this be a big smile day for you. May the dense "get it," the worthless find "it," and the aimless stumble across "it." May everybody discover your spir-"it" of love, joy, and peace and share "it" this day. I humbly offer this prayer, Lord, knowing full well that I may be part of the answer to "it." Shape my thoughts and actiosn today so I can help you have a great day.

Amen."