Holy One from on high, as the new day dawns, it is all we can do but lift up our hands and hearts to you in praise and gratitude. You have sheltered us through the night and have brought us safely to this new day! O glory be! 

Lord we celebrate that as a nation we can wake up to a world that is striving to return to a semblance of old familiarity; while some of us may want to re-engage others with the enthusiasm of a Golden Retriever puppy, help us to be mindful of those who are still timid and anxious as all of us walk into the post-pandemic world.

In particular, we celebrate those who have put on their Easter life like Claudia Willey and Joyce Jones and thank you for the eternal life you make available through your Son, Jesus.

We celebrate those who have undergone successful surgeries and procedures for issues like brain cancer, aneurisms, heart irregularities, or hips and knees.

We celebrate those women and men who suffer from addictions and have found solace and healing through such organizations like AA.

We celebrate students of all ages who are taking milestone steps by graduating from kindergarten or graduating with a terminal doctoral degree.

We celebrate our educators on all levels who have had to learn to new teaching methods on the fly and adjust to a rapidly change educational environment.  And as we celebrate, we also commend the students who have not flourished during this time of COVID; grant them encouragement and resources to help them grow.

We commend our local, state, and national leaders to you; instill in them wisdom, compassion, and justice.

We commend to our tired but ever-loyal servants in healthcare from our doctors, nurses to the quiet souls who clean a hospital room’s bathroom; give them an injection of strength and hope.

Prince of Peace, we commend to you those places in our community and throughout the world that are fraught with violence and war like in South America, northern Africa, and in Palestine/Israel; surround the innocent with your sheltering wings of protection from bullets, bombs or injustice.

Father of Tender mercies, we ask your special blessing upon those who are getting older in years and whose once strong bodies are feeling the affects of age and a long life; assuage their physical pain and discomfort and may their spirit be vital in your Spirit. We ask all these things in the name of the One who taught us to pray – Our Father…

Copyright May 16, 2021, Patrick H. Wrisley.