Holding Ashley in the Light

A quaker friend has promised to hold Ashley "in the Light." I love that expression. I can picture the beam of God's light illuminating everything around where Ashley walks, bathing her in light.

In Church today we had a hymn sing. Lots of people just enjoyed making music and telling stories. We sang and prayed, and reminded each other that music is part of our praying. Leandra, our music minister, prayed a beautiful prayer in between verses of "Near to the Hear of God" which truly touched me. I asked her if I could share her prayer with out blog, so here it is:

Prayer:
Holy One
We have so many loves--this world, our home,
the people to whom we are close, and time with them
for some of us, school
for some, work
for some, sports
for some, making music
the miracle of birth and the coming of Joshua [a new church baby] to our world and our community

our hearts overflow with warmth and gratitude

too, our hearts overflow with care
for people we love
for our nation
for the world, the peace of her peoples, the salvation of the earth
for ourselves, intimately connected in the web of all that is

we name now Ashley, who needs care--ours and yours

hold all who wait near your heart.

If you don't know the song, maybe you can still get an idea of why it seemed so appropriate to be praying and singing this song this morning. The last verse says:
There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God;
a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before you near to the heart of God.

I find this image of the Light, the heart of God, to be very calming as we wait for tests, for treatments, for answers. Suffering and uncertainty abound, but there is also beauty and love. Let's hold each other in the Light. Amen