The Prayer I Need Right Now

Into your hands, O merciful Savior,

we commend your servant, Mary.

Acknowledge, we humbly pray,

a sheep of your own fold,

a lamb of your own flock,

a sinner of your own redeeming.

Receive her into the arms of your mercy,

into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

This is the prayer I’ve been praying since my sister Mary died unexpectedly earlier this month.  Of course the pastor read it at the graveside, and yet I keep praying it myself, over and over.  In times of loss, when no words come, what a gift it is for the church to give us time-tested words that are exactly what we need to be saying.