Transparent

I opened my email and found the weekly prayer list, faithfully scanned into an adobe and sent out through cyberspace by one of the ladies in our Sunday School class. It is just one attempt to keep us connected. Our class has become so large that if we spent the hour sharing prayer requests, we would never get to the bible study. And, then we (or I) would likely forget. It read pretty much like this (names omitted): family, unspoken, unspoken, cancer, illness, marriage, finances, unspoken, cancer, college exams, surgery, family, unspoken, marriage, finances, safe travels, funeral of a friend. Most weeks it is similar. We all share the same struggles. Yet, in my shame I have often written “unspoken” on the list myself. For God knows our hearts, right? And then there is the gossip vine… did you hear what so and so did? Dear Lord, send me friends, real friends to whom I can bare my searching soul, and trust to point me back to you. Give me patience. Heal my body. Heal my marriage. Help our finances. Help us be better stewards of your blessings. Shine your light into the stubborn and hurting souls of those I love. Lead my little son’s tender heart to you. Thank you for the hustle and bustle of this week. Thank you that you love the world so much, that during this season you cause us to shift just a little, and we give each other gifts in celebration of your Son’s birthday.