Gather

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

This you is the plural you.

May we gather, every family in heaven and on earth, bowing our knees before our Loving Creator that He may grant us to be strengthened with power through His Spirit to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ, that we may be filled with the fullness of God.

This has been my Saturday prayer since the days of sharing a flimsy back trailer with Norma Croyle at Grace Christian School. And I printed this prayer up and push-pinned it to the wall behind my desk and it was my prayer for every one of those seventh graders every single day, especially Miss Andrea Kerstin and Mr. Dustin Clay. And especially Tim and Lauren and Caitlyn and, and each and every one of those kiddos. I worked my way down the attendance roster every morning while Andrea sometimes finished up her homework.

And this you is the singular you.

May I be rooted and grounded in love today. Today as I prepare to tidy up my house and hang up the laundry, as I prepare to welcome migrants and help them make phone calls to their sponsors scattered across the country, as I prepare to get all fancy dressed up for the Nutcracker ballet with momma and Everette, and as I prepare a grocery shopping list for stopping at Fry’s on our way home.

Bowing before this mystery of a newborn babe.

Throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Gathered.