Last Friday morning lives changed in Aurora, Colorado. Making sense of such a tragic event isn’t possible and yet we find ourselves struggling for answers. Perhaps the only answer is that we pray. Today, at ICDevos, we pause and we pray for the victims and their families whose lives are forever, in a moment, different.
Many of those killed in that theater had such lives to live, they were the “young” among us. They had, by all accounts, so much life yet to live. We will never understand such senselessness. We will simply never understand. But in the wake of such a tragedy, we must turn to the only place where peace and comfort rest, we must pray. We must pray from the place we’d rather not go.
When the Lord made it clear that we needed to honor the lives of those lost last Friday in the wee hours, He laid on my heart someone who has walked the journey of losing a child in the prime of her life. Lisa Harris graciously opened her heart and penned these very personal words from her own broken heart for those left behind. The ones who themselves have a long journey ahead of them. It’s for those mothers we pray today.
Join us as we pray…
Most Merciful God …
I pray for the mother’s heart. I pray for the one that carried, and labored and loved this child that you now hold in your arms.
I pray that the depth of her pain will seep slowly in and not crush her.
I pray that her family and friends stay strong for the long haul.
I pray that sleep will come easily and waking up will not be a continual feeling of heaviness and dread.
I pray Father, that after everyone goes home and things quiet down, that she will feel your presence and call out your name, even if its anger, she will still call Your name.
I pray that in time…she can forgive.
I pray she will let go of the ‘what if’s’.
I pray she will release the feeling of guilt that she’s alive and her child is not.
I pray that as the ‘firsts’ come, she will remember through her tears, the sweet years she had with her child. Memories are precious Lord, thank you.
I pray for acceptance, as each mother watches the dreams she had for her child lowered into the ground. Motherhood and dreams go together Lord, so very hard to bury both at the same time.
I pray that there will be no foothold where bitterness can take root…
I pray for strength as each day she makes herself get out of bed and keep her routine. Protect her heart as she learns too quickly that life goes on…even in the death of a child.
I pray Lord, as each mother’s journey with grief is different and will take them many places; I pray they find the joy again…Oh Gracious Lord, lead the mother’s heart back to the joy.
It’s with inexpressible gratitude that we thank Lisa for these words. In the days and weeks ahead, when the noise settles and the cameras fade, pray that we remember to pray. Pray that our spirits are burdened to pray for those mothers among us who grieve the loss of a child. May God make us ever aware of how His heart hurts when a mothers heart breaks. Lord, give us ears to hear the nudge and eyes to see into the grief that overwhelms our neighbor and in some way, some small way, help us encourage those who have to walk this very difficult road. Help us be Jesus to them.
Bless you dear one for these precious words of prayer.
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Amen and amen. Thank you, Lisa, for the prayer, and thank YOU, Lori, for listening to His prompting.
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I have been praying for the salvation of the friends and families of those who lost their lives in Aurora. How wonderful to pray like this, too. Thanks, Lori, for your perspective and for sharing Lisa’s.
Hugs and joy to you,
Becky
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Such a beautiful prayer, Lori & Lisa. It’s impossible to comprehend such evil. My heart goes out to the entire community and join you in prayer.
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I have a friend who lost her child in Afganistan. I am sending her this prayer. It is truely inspired by God. Thank you for sharing you heart.
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