prayers + meditations.

Thoughts on Your Hands…

Yours are the hands I hold.
the hands I rub lotion onto.
the hands I wash, the hands I dry.
yours are the hands that are folded in prayer.
the hands that know my touch.
the hands that greet me and the hands that wave good bye.

My hands are the hands I hold.
my hands greet your hand with gentleness and love.
my hands are worn and dry from the hundred hand washings a day, but I hold
my hands in great esteem, so I care for them, rubbing lotion on them.
for my hands are now more cared for from your touch.
when my hands work for yours, when you cannot brush your teeth or eat your
meal, my hands are hands that bring nourishment and health.

May your hands be blessed. May your hands be cared for the way that you show care to others. Your hands are a blessing unto others. Be blessed, friends. Be blessed. Your hands (hearts, minds, & bodies) are in my prayers. Share love. Share peace.

©suzanne l. vinson, 2008-2012.  

a prayer

may those who stare at broken spaces &

places find the healing that is needed.

may those who long for news receive word.

may those who are hurting and helpless

be held in loving arms & receive blessing.

may healing be found, doors be opened, &

food be served. may families find one another.

may stranger & guest share together.

©suzanne l. vinson, 2010-2012.

On Family Birth

Creator of Life, who breathes us into being, whose spirit can be the first breath, whose knowing can be the first knowing, grant your spirit of love, presence, and peace surround parents who birth hope today. To parents whose child comes from birthing waters of development into the world full of infinite possibility, draw your loving presence near. As you draw near, dance among these, pouring all the love and affection coming from many parts of creation to these we love and bless.

Well maker, bless the wellspring whose waters flow: tears of love, tears of gratitude, tears of pain, tears of joy, tears with no name. These waters from your source become waters of welcome, as part of the birthing waters this day.

Creative Presence, as you have paired creatively these who will love and be loved, may your spirit work within the transformation taking place through love. whether by labor of love in a car, train, and plane to birth a new daughter who is birthed through hopes and dreams and love in a creative, courageous way, or through the process of labor, birthing a child in a room with midwife and father, soothe and support their laboring love.

Wellspring of Life, may the anticipation of waiting and watching and laboring become the sacred gift of life, the gift of hope, the gift of dream. Bless these who wait, these who welcome, these whose hearts are filled so full. Bless the prayers and hopes and dreams surrounding this creative mystery this day.

Mothering God, may birth bring pure love, light and peace to these and their supportive families and friends. Delight be shared in all ways in this day and the days to come for these as parents who travel to meet their child and for children who travel to meet their parents. May the birthing waters within, surrounding, and oceans below be for these the waters that bring miracles.

Amen.

©suzanne l. vinson, 2009-2012. 

Meditation:  

  Before the bread 

    there was the wheat.

  Before the wheat

    there was the stalk.

  Before the stalk

    there was the seed.

  Before the seed

    there was the fertile soil.

  Before the fertile soil

    there was the space. 

  There with the space were willing hands.

©suzanne l. vinson, 2009-2012.