Grief and Loss: Blessings and Prayers Project

Dear Readers,

I have walked with a lot of people through loss in my work as a chaplain, and I have my own set of losses. I want to compile a set of my own prayers and blessings for different moments of grief and loss. I wanted to share my blessings and prayers with others, in case it might be helpful to others. I am posting them here as part of a larger project of compiling a book of prayers and blessings that I can give to family and friends. Thank you for taking the time to read my humble words.

In the Light,

EunSung

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Blessing for Someone going through Separation and Divorce

May your steps be guided by the Divine.
As the weight and depth of your pain grow,
may the Spirit give you unknown strength to keep going.

May you let go of the dreams yet to be fulfilled,
and be at peace to uncover a new wild adventure.

May you be blessed to forgive yourself and love yourself,
and let regret and sorrow turn to light and love.

Divine Love Poems: Day 16

Dear Beloved,

Why are you so far and yet so near?
It’s in the moments of grief that I cry out to you,
and moments of joy I forget about you.

Thank you for the gifts of joy and sorrow,
because both are great teachers.

May I accept life in all of it’s fullness.

Divine Love Poems: Day 7

Beloved,

I know I haven’t been faithful,
I am easily distracted by earthly clamors.

I am trying to follow Your will and Your way, the Way of Love.
But I am too dense, and sometimes I don’t understand.

Please make Your way clear for me,
and keep it simple. I need You to say
“Hey kid, wrong way, this way!” Thanks.

Your Beloved Child.

Divine Love Poems: Day 6

Dear God,

My heart is filled with gratitude for having forgiveness in my heart.

I never thought I could let go of that old anger that sat deep inside, but somehow my heart is a little lighter today.

Thank you for loving me, when I still act like a scared little boy, who lashes out a the world because he doesn’t want to be hurt.

Thank you for helping me a little more free today.

Poem/Prayer: To Seek

O Creator,
I have been seeking you since I was a child.
I sought you in the mountains, Oceans, in cave temples, churches,
bars, dark alleys, halls of universities, in stadiums, and finally
in the seat of my heart.

You, who wove me in my mother’s womb was never far away,
as I was seeking You: You were searching with me.
I felt so abandoned and alone, but there you were…right beside me,
dwelling within me. You were so close that I could not see,
I could not fathom Your love always surrounding; Your love is like
the air I breathe, so I took it for granted.

No longer do I seek you, because I am home.
No longer will I turn from Your ways,
eating the left overs of pigs.

I will be Your humble servant,
I am Yours.

Poem and a Prayer: Change

Hi God,

real change is so damn hard,
and yet sometimes it happens so fast.

God, help me help myself by surrendering to you.
Help me be willing to let go of old ideas,
and entrust all of myself to you,
even the rough edges, and dark places
I’m afraid to look.

I know I’m deserving of Your Love,
please help me to embrace and live
into this truth.

Thanks a million.

Your Beloved Child,

EunSung

A Blessing for the New Year

O Holy One,

May this day be blessed by the breath of life flowing in us and through us.
We give thanks for the past year, for all the ups and downs, and through it all that You were with us.

May you bless our hearts with openness and courage to embrace each moment
as a precious gift.

May we continue to grow, change, and receive each day with renewed hope and trust in Your infinite love.

May we share this gift of love freely given to us with those who feel apart and alone.

In Your Name We pray,

Amen.

Poem: Love Song to My Higher Power

oh Holy One,

may I be one with You, so there is no longer
separation between thou and I.
may I be one with the infinite universe beyond time and space.
love crosses throughout space weaving my soul with all others,
finite beings woven together by Your divine love.
May we truly see with hearts open, and live the reality that when I hurt another
I hurt myself.
Infinite unity that brings about harmony, may it be in the eternal now.

Prayer for Unity

God,

Thank you for gathering us together as citizens of this nation. We give thanks for each person here, for their work, for their thoughts, feelings and words, but especially for the gift of themselves. Sometimes we forget that we each have a story, a life, struggles and joys not always seen. Help us as we work side by side to serve this country, and to truly see and connect to each other, heart to heart. We are more than what we do, even when it is good and meaningful work. Help us to see the fullness of each person gathered here.  Help us to see how each person that make up this beautiful nation is a blessing, and help us bless those who come to this nation seeking a home.  May you bless our work, bless our time, and truly bless each person here to realize that each life is a blessing just simply for being. May we realize this blessing as we walk shoulder to shoulder with one another.

In Your Holy Name We Pray. Amen.

[Today marks 28 years of my family being in the U.S. We immigrated from South Korea to Asheville, NC on Nov. 6, 1989, and became citizens in 1994.]

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Hear how this prayer travelled to be used elsewhere, and hopefully touched at least one person for the better.

http://humanityisaction.com/2017/11/16/prayer-for-unity/