Thank you for love of family and friends

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for your love 
and for demonstrating it through the love of a human family.
What a beautiful concept!

Thank you for creating each person in this world so carefully.
Each is unique in personality and purpose.
Thank you for the overwhelming blessing of children, parents, siblings, extended family.

Thank you for everything–
for the struggles and the pain that living in community brings.
Thank you for the joys and the surprises,
the disappointments and the hope.
Thank you for all of it because you use all of it to make us better and to prepare us for your purpose.

Thank you for the love of my spiritual family,
for friends at church,
for mentors, teachers, and leaders,
for all the people I’ll never meet 
who preached a sermon or wrote a book,
or started a non-profit,
or wrote curriculum
that formed me and challenged me and changed me.
Bless them for their service to me because they loved and obeyed you.

I just need your Spirit to help me remember that
everything is good in your hands.
People are not terrible. They’re people.
We all need you, and without you, we really mess things up.

So often, I forget when things get difficult how much I am truly blessed.
So thank you for the good you put into my life;
it helps me realize how gracious you truly are
and how gracious you have called me to be toward everyone else.

I love you.
In Jesus’ name, 
Amen.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must loveone another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Click here for related blogs and prayers:
“Thank you for my children“
“Why love hurts“
“I believe you love me”