Our daughter, Lucy, turned one year old on September 22. Her birthday has caused me to reflect on how quickly time passes...and how much of life I have lived without even realizing how fast the days were passing. However, after I reflected on her birth, I thought of her future...
A few months ago Mary read me a prayer for her daughter that Ann Voskamp published on her blog. As she read this thoughtful prayer I quickly realized that was my prayer for Lucy. Ann puts in words what I could only feel.
God, clothe this girl in a gown of Grace,
the only dress that makes beautiful the style of Your spirit.
Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word,
Word, that makes her crave more of Christ, have hunger pains for Him.
Enclose her in communion with You
You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart
into a roof that absorbs storms,
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 Christ,
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 faith,
And when it's time to work...make her a holy wonder.
May she be bread and feed many with her life and 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
Her led of the Spirit to lead many to the Cross -
that leads to the tomb, wildly empty.
And raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins
to love this beautiful girl like You do...
In the name of Christ who rose
and appeared first
to one of His daughters...
Amen
