Prayer for the Family at a Funeral

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Almighty and Everliving God, Abba our Holy Father, we come to You, for You invite us; You wait for us in moments like these.

We come to You through your son – our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have come to know You, Abba, Father.

We come to You by the comforting side of Your own Holy Spirit – He who gives voice to our adoption – He who fills our lungs with the breath of life.

We come to pray for the family of our friend, beloved by so many, and missed now so keenly – – especially by her children, grandchildren, and her great grandchildren.

You know each one; You know who they are – and where they are; You know them completely – You know us better than we know ourselves – for You have made us for Yourself, and we are restless until we find our rest in You.

Enter their sorrow, Lord, like You would walk into and through a canyon – and linger there among them; saunter with them so that when they have

Flash floods of tears, let them expose
Long forgotten strata of life
Laid down in the peaceful decades –
so that they may examine
Every old scar and cut of lament.
May their Weeping wash the wounds clean
And leave them to heal, which always
Takes an age or two.*

Meander with them Lord in such a way as to lead them on, hold them up, and carry their burden from time to time.

Remind them of their lost loved one; sorrow with them, and rejoice with them in their memories. Remind them of where You were in each memory; remind them where You are right now as they grieve.

Remind us of Your eternal truths – that “You are our eternal refuge – and underneath are Your everlasting arms.” Let them feel how You have undermined the depths of their feelings so that they would find You there already.

Remind them of this ancient Psalm you inspired so long ago:

Lord, You have been our dwelling place
    throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born
    or You brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Now to You O Lord – Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 

Original Eugene Peterson poem can be found at “Flash Flood of Tears.”

Prayed on the occasion of the funeral of the mother of a friend