When You Remember Me

Frederick Buechner wrote this:
“When you remember me it means you carry something of who I am with you.
That I have left some mark of who I am on who you are.”

Believing that to be true, O God, we remember.
We remember all who find themselves in need this day.
The people of Houston and Florida.
The people of the Caribbean and the Northwest.
The people of Mexico and Syrian and the refugees from Myanmar.
To say nothing of the needs that land so close to home.
A friend with cancer.
A colleague whose mother has died.
A neighbor who has lost his job.
Break open our hearts so that there might be room in our lives for their need and their sorrow and their hunger and their searching. We remember.

And, we remember those whose prayer this day is Thank you.
For the kindness of strangers and all who step forward to help.
For food enough and for a safe place to be.
For love expressed in the exchange of vows.
For water sprinkled on a tiny head.
Break open our hearts, O God, as we add our gratitude to theirs.

And, we remember Your presence with us.
Allowing you to mark our lives that we might find strength and hope.
Allowing you to mark our lives that we might be Your presence to others.|
Compassion.
Kindness.
Light.
Hope.
Courage.
We remember, O God.

Amen.