From the Voices of Children

Dear Lord;  Good morning, and Happy Thanksgiving Father!  Over the last few days, I’ve been focusing our correspondence on some of the Blessings that I’m thankful for, so today I thought I’d share our time together and get my children involved in our chat.  Quite often I’ve heard Your Voice or seen Your Light in them, so it made sense to me to find out what they were truly thankful for.  This morning I asked them, “What would you like to thank God for?”, and here are their replies…

Aidan, Age 8 : “I would like to thank God for giving me a family, a home, for my pets, that my family’s really smart, that our new kitty wasn’t too sick when we got her, that I have nice friends, that I’m healthy, that my whole family is ‘mostly healthy’, that Me and Jonathan get along sometimes and that I have a good time at school.”

Jonathan, Age 10 : “I want to thank God for a healthy family, a caring family, great friends, a house around me, food in my tummy, for all the things You’ve done for me, having pets, having things to do, for having good education, having a brother, being able to go off and do things, for having clothes, making it so I can have video games, making me able to play with my family, forgiving me when I’ve done wrong and giving me courage for getting through tough situations.”

As I’ve mentioned before Lord, these two little boys are up towards the top of my Blessings list.  My heart is shaped daily by their presence, and I lift my prayers of thanks to You for having them in my life.

May all of Your Children feel Your Loving Touch on this day, and know Your Grace that we may honor Your Presence and go forward in Love.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil

Prayers of Thanks for Prosperity

Dear Lord; In keeping with my “Prayers of Thanks” theme this week Father, I’d like to talk about something else I’m very thankful for; Prosperity.  Now, at first glance this may seem to also be ironic as financially this has been one of the worst years we’ve ever had, but I’m focusing on the “Big Picture” here, but it really isn’t.  Let me explain.

I’ve learned to look at the concept of prosperity in a different way over the last several years.  Yes, there’s certainly a prosperity that comes along with significant financial gain or business success, but I also think it plays into other areas of life as well.  For example:

• I have an amazing family, and although money has been very tight as of late we’ve never been closer.
• I’m surrounded by a plethora of wonderful friends who truly care about us, and for whom we care in return.
• We have a lovely home, we’re warm and clothed, and we have good food in our bellies each day.
• Shannon and I both have jobs we enjoy, and although self-employment does hold a large number of challenges, I have the ability to forge my own professional destiny.
• Our children go to a good school, are doing extremely well and are growing mentally, physically and emotionally.
• My relationship with You Father, has never been stronger and continues to grow each day.

I think I can safely look at these and say I feel prosperous this year Lord.  Today’s prayer therefore, is for all of us to look at prosperity through Your Eyes, and to try to see the “Big Picture” so we may be truly thankful for Your Blessings and Grace.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil

Prayers of Thanks for Your Healing

Dear Lord; It seems almost ironic as I’ve been good and sick for the past week, but this morning I’d like to Thank You for my family’s health.

As you’re no doubt aware, we’ve suffered some very serious health issues over the years; Shannon’s multiple back surgeries and gastric bypass complications, Jonathan’s Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis nearly taking him from us and my Mother’s and Grandfather’s early deaths from cancer.  And yet, through all of that we were Blessed in many ways that weren’t necessarily apparent at the time.  Thinking back on all of those hardships in our lives, I’m now able to see true Blessings and Signs of Your Presence that have helped shape who we’ve become, and made us an even tighter family.

On the health front this year, we’ve actually done very well.  Jonathan’s disease has stayed in remission and he’s been able to be a “normal kid” for the most part.  Shannon had a brief back strain issue early in the year, but no permanent damage was incurred and she’s been fine since.  Aidan, as always, is invulnerable.  And as for me, other than a bout of Lyme disease and a couple respiratory bugs (like the one I’ve had this last week) I’ve been pretty solid.  All in all, we’ve been extremely Blessed, and I very much Thank You for that.

Therefore Father, my Prayer of Thanksgiving today is focused on the mental and physical Health of Your Children.  Please let those in need feel Your Healing Touch, and the comfort that comes from knowing Your Presence.  Let us all have the vision to see past the hardships we go through, and experience Your Grace so we may know Peace.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil

Prayers of Thanks for My Wife

Dear Lord; I’d like to start this morning Father, by thanking You for giving my son Aidan a wonderful birthday weekend.  Your Presence and Guidance were very apparent throughout, and he had a fantastic time with family and friends.

As you’re aware Lord, this week we’re celebrating Thanksgiving so it seemed a logical thought to spend some time each day discussing something I’m thankful for.  Therefore, I’m going to start with one of the biggest Blessings in my life; my wonderful Wife Shannon.

Shannon is an integral piece of me Lord.  I revel in our time together, yearn for her when we’re apart and truly can’t imagine not having her in my life.  She’s my best friend, my lover and an amazing mother to my children.  She’s my conscience, and my balance.  She’s the brightest star in my sky, and my safe haven when the world seems too insane to continue.  She is my Angel, and I love her with every fiber of my being.  I am truly Thankful for You bringing us together, and for the Blessings You’ve bestowed on us throughout our time as Man and Wife.  Please continue to shine Your Light on her, Bless her and Keep her in Your Gaze so she may walk in Your Grace all her life.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil

Thanks Dad…

Dear Lord; As I’ve mentioned to You before, I think becoming a father was truly the starting point of my Spiritual Awakening, and the path to growing my relationship with You.  In fact, this morning while searching for inspiration for our correspondence, I kept coming back to the relationship I have with my children.  That got me wondering, if being a father to my two boys was so powerful a force in my life, how must it feel to be the Father of all of us?  I worry endlessly about my kids, revel in their successes, cringe at their pain and watch them grow with adoration and fascination.  I can’t even imagine experiencing that on the scale You have.  Well, as one of Your Children, I just want to say Thank You for all you do Father;  Your unending Love, Your sacrifices, Your Grace and Your bountiful Blessings in all our lives each day.  And Lord, I especially want to thank You for allowing me the Blessing of being a father myself.  It has truly opened my eyes and my heart to You more than ever before.  Amen.  ~Phather Phil