🙏 Prayer for a Grateful Spirit
Refining your faith (& cultivating gratitude) when the world's on fire. 🔥
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Can we practice gratitude even when the world is on fire? How do we live out rhythms of thankfulness when we’re bombarded with shouts and whispers for more?
These are questions I’m asking myself. Maybe you’ve had the same wonderings, too.
Where does that leave us?
In To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers & Liturgies for Parents, I was intentional to include what I hope is a nuanced section of modern prayers for those of us who hope to nurture faith & character within and around our kids.
1For many of us, this first means disentangling our own spirituality from the cultural influences we grew up with. What stays? What goes? What is rooted in Christ and what is merely the influence of politics or power?
My friend Jen is a spiritual director and says that when we refine the faith of our youth, with God’s help we discern what to include — and what to transcend.
Below, you’ll see A Prayer for a Grateful Spirit from To Light Their Way.
If the prayer speaks to your heart, would you consider grabbing a few copies of this hardcover keepsake collection of modern prayers?
*It’s currently sold out at all retailers except for Amazon (They bought up ALL the copies!) and they are selling it for $17.99 (!) so please head there to purchase and have it on your front step in just a few days. (I have it on good accord that these books are making gift-giving very easy!)
A Prayer for a Grateful Spirit by Kayla Craig
O God, giver of good gifts,
Big and small,
We give thanks
For the honor
And the privilege
Of being a parent.
We give thanks, O God,
For laughter around the table
And for arms around each other.
We give thanks, O God,
For shoulders to cry on
And hands to hold.
O God, giver of good gifts,
We praise You
And thank You
For Your mercies,
New each morning,
Even when the mercies are hard to see.
We give thanks, O God,
For memories made
And for hope in what is to come.
We give thanks, O God,
For the quiet evenings
And the chaotic mornings too.
O God, giver of good gifts,
All we are
And hope to be,
We offer to You
In thanksgiving for this life together.
We give thanks, O God,
For squishy babies
And curious toddlers.
We give thanks, O God,
For growing kids
And teens who are finding their own way
And young adults who are becoming
more themselves.
O God, giver of good gifts,
Thank You for moments of time
When heaven meets earth
In the form of dance parties
And bedtime stories,
Reheated leftovers
And making the team.
We give thanks, O God,
For inside jokes
And knowing looks.
We give thanks, O God,
For love freely given
And love freely received.
For all things,
Big and small,
We give thanks, O God.
James 1:17; Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Psalm 100
Believing as we go
As we draw closer to the Advent season, I’m working on some writing I hope might resource you, your church communities, and your families, so stay tuned.
AND: I recently had the joy of talking with Ian Morgan Cron on the beloved Typology podcast.
(Can you guess my enneagram number?) What a gift this conversation was!
We explored how my “subtype” has illuminated different aspects of my personality and influenced my interactions with my family and others. Whether you’re soaked in the Enneagram or have absolutely no idea what it is, I think this episode will serve you well.
Until next time…
Remember, you can find me at @liturgiesforparents and @kayla_craig on Instagram.
You can also find my Liturgies for Parents playlists here.
If you have any Advent resources that have spoken to your soul, will you let me know? Just reply to this email. I’d love to know (and share)!
This incredible painting is called Thankful. It was created in 1894 by Henry Ossawa Tanner. I stumbled upon it this morning while researching a writing project and it took my breath away. I plan to get a printed copy for my family’s dining room. I hope you take some time to sit with it and reflect on the stories it might hold, too.
I thought the same about the painting