Commentary

The Lord’s Prayer For Debby’s Family & Friends

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Click to Download PDF

Our Father – who art in heaven
Dad, why did you take our sister Debby to you in heaven so soon?
Give her back. We still need and want her for awhile longer. You’ll get her for all eternity.

Hallowed by thy name
O.K. if you say so, but I’m not feeling much like “holying” your name these days.

Thy kingdom come

I know I should be glad your kingdom has come for Debby – and, if you push me I guess I am. But, Father, I’m hurting that she and your kingdom seem so far away. And we really didn’t even get to say a proper good-bye. God, you really could have done that much better – I’m just saying…

Thy will be done – on earth as it is in heaven

I think we need some of your heavenly ways to infuse our earthy existence. Couldn’t you assign Debby the task
of bringing some of heaven to earth? She liked to travel and bring gifts. I’m sure they would be pretty!
We’d win in two ways: we get some of heaven and we’d see Debby again.

Give us this day our daily bread

I’m not so hungry these days. Father, today – and probably for awhile – I don’t really need bread.
I need to grasp some of what this all means. Please, spare a crust or morsel of understanding to get me
through today. And tomorrow I’ll be back to ask again.

And forgive us our trespasses

First, forgive Debby hers. Yes, she had them – and I know you will. Then she can be even freer in your
kingdom. Now forgive ours – so we can be better with one another, and with ourselves.

As we forgive those who have trespassed against us

Maybe in our own pain you’ll help us to find the compassion and strength to forgive those who have hurt us.
And God – the hard part – help us to forgive ourselves for self-inflicted wounds.

Lead us not into temptation

Of self-destructive anger, paralyzing analysis and, understandable, yet misplaced self-blame.

But deliver us from evil

Draw us away from all the seductive evils that destroy ourselves, one another, and our world.
Press us to do the good that can create, renew and heal. Urge us to give the greatest and most powerful
antidote to evil – to just love: love you, love one another and love ourselves.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

And for thine too is Debby! And, so freed and untied at last in your kingdom, Debby is ballin’ – this day and
evermore. And for her also is the kingdom of peace, the power of letting go and the glory that we saw in her,
she now sees in herself.

Amen.
JUSTLOVE
KS 12.30.14

 

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