A PSALM FOR FAMILIES

When Your disciples asked You

to teach them

to pray

You taught them to begin

“Our Father Who Art in Heaven”

Our FATHER

Of all the ways You could present Yourself

Of all the ways Jesus could present You

You named Yourself our FATHER

Thank You.

Now, restore to us the joy of fatherhood in Your name

Restore to men the joy of leadership

Of responsibility

Of being the protector

Or being the provider

Of being there.

Restore to us the joy of being husbands and fathers and the first priest of our families

Fathers in Your name

You brought forth life from nothing

Out of the womb of the earth You birthed us all

Thank You.

Now, restore to us the joy of motherhood in Your name

Bring back the joy of bringing life

Of nurturing

Teaching

Caring

Restore the joy of womanly grace

And of being the first love in our homes

Restore to us the joy of motherhood in Your name

When we Your children went so wrong that You saw us headed to death and condemnation

You chose

Of all the ways you could have intervened

To manifest and send to us Yourself as Your child as Your Son

Thank you.

Now, Lord, restore to us the joy of childhood.

Give our children peace

And dreams

Hope

And security

Give our children laughter without malice

Play without corruption

Discovery without destruction

Protect them from themselves

Deliver them from the enemy who makes them enemies

Of themselves

Bring back the joy of childhood

In Your name.

When we were broken by sin

You gave Your Son to make us whole

And Your Holy Spirit to remain with us

And in us

To empower us to live wholly.

Now, fill our families with your Holy Spirit

Where we are broken,

Split

Divided

Separated

Estranged

Or strangers

Heal us.  Make us whole.

Restore the lost joy of loving one another.

Empower reconciliation

Enable restoration

Cleanse our tainted hearts

And renew our wronged spirits

Give your Holy Spirit to us

And restore to us the joy

Of family

So that we may remember Who made us

And in remembering fulfill

The first blessing of Creation

And reflect Your image

In our FAMILIES.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To listen to sermons and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

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Hall Memorial CME Church

541 Seibles Road

Montgomery, AL 36116