A Prayer For Job Loss

This prayer really touched a cord in me today. Today and for the rest or the week, the company Matt works for will be firing people. They have already made huge cuts in spending, wages and in jobs. The job cuts started right before Christmas, happened again in January and now in February. I am beginning to think that there is no end to the job cuts. Everyone is constantly sitting on the edges of their seats hoping that it won't be them, I know we are. I do realize that some cuts have to be made in order to get through the hard times but I also worry about the people who are being fired and those who are having to fire so many people. What is this doing to all of them? What kind of strain is this putting on them; emotionally, socially, spiritually? Today I want to pray for everyone who knows someone who is losing their jobs or having to fire someone. Let's say this prayer together.

O God,
every good gift comes from your hand
and you have been generous to so many
in so many ways...

But the times are changing
and things we have taken for granted
are slipping from our hands and beyond our reach...

As the economy falters
keep our stride firm and strong
even when the familiar path
slips from beneath our step...

Renew our trust in your care for us
and in the help that we can offer each other...

Help us to know the things we truly need,
to let go the things we only want
and to know the difference between the two...

As we let go the extra things, the frills and frolics,
teach us to love the simpler things
and especially the simple joys
that bring us together...

Help us to accept what we have lost
and give us the strength to look again
for work and for hope...

Make us quick to help our neighbor
and to accept our neighbor's help...

Give us the grace of a new beginning
even when we're not sure
where or how to begin...

Renew our desire to be close to you
and refresh a spirit of prayer within us...

Hear us when we cry out to you
and give us confidence
that you hear our every prayer...

Help us to trust in you, O God,
"that all shall be well,
and that all shall be well,
and that all manner of things shall be well..."

Our Father...

(The quotation that ends the prayer is from 14th-century mystic Julian of Norwich)

-ConcordPastor

Gabriel Says

Now that Gabriel has started reading this is what I get everytime we are in the car.

Gabriel: "Mom the speed limit is 35 you need to drive 34."

I would like to say, "Thanks Matt." and please put as much sarcasm into that as you possibly can. Now I have to deal with two backseat drivers everytime both boys are in the car with me.

Those Cards

I was in the basement store room thisafternoon trying to organize things in preparation for putting away the fall decorations and getting out the Christmas ones. I called Matt in to help me moe a couple of boxes. While he was moving the boxes he spotted the boxes that hold all of his baseball and basketball cards. (We have many issues over these cards by the way.) He pulled the box down and started going through them. He decided to hand some over to Gabe who has been collecting football cards. Matt started this little hobby too. Anyway, Gabriel asked about some cards and here is how that comversation went;

Gabriel: "What are those cards?"
Matt: "Those are just a bunch of crap cards."
Gabriel: "Can I have those crap cards?"

Me: "Good one, crap cards." (whispered)

I am still wondering, if they are a bunch of crap cards, why is he still holding onto them so tightly?

Moral: Don't day anything around kids you don't want repeated.

Last year the kids and I worked on a paper chain to decorate the house with for Christmas. On each chain we would write something we were thankful for. This year we have started a new one. Every night at dinner we think about something that we are thankful about. I hope that it helps us all to remember all that we have. Some of the things we have been thankful for a normal everyday items like our food, toys, family, specific accomplishments, health and specific activities but some of them hve surpised me too. Here are some of the things we have been thankful for in the past week.

Gabriel: I am thankful for God making our bodies.
Gabriel: I am thankful for the world God made.

Abby: I am thankful for daddy come home.
Abby: I am thankful for gymnastics.

Matt: I am thankful I will see my parents in a couple of weeks.
Matt: I am thankful for fall days.

Carmen: I am thankful for hugs and kisses.
Carmen: I am thankful Gabriel's reading.

Our thankful thoughts don't have to be profound. I just want us to remember all the good things we have and that are happening in our lives.

Gabe Says

With Matt being out of town emotions seem to be closer to the edge for all of us. Today Gabe and I were battling one another on his behavior. I had sent him to his room and later went in to talk to him. During our conversation I told him that I loved him very much. I also told him that if I didn't love him I wouldn't pay attention to the things he does and his behavior. He looked at me and asked, "Mom would you pay less attention to my fingers in my mouth."

All I could do was smile and laugh a little and then tell him that was something I would always pay attention to. That wasn't even the reason he got into trouble either.

Elizabeth Says

"dada, no, ribbit"

Not all at once. She also will wave Hello.

Abby Says

"I wanna watch Sleeping Booty."

Gabe Says

The other night we were eating hush puppies and Abby asked what they were. I told her and Gabe got this comical look on his face and said, "Are they really puppies?"

Gabe Says

During my mom's visit last week she started clean all the old, shriveled leaves off one of my house plants.

Gabe: "Meme, What are you doing."
Meme: "Cleaning up mommy's plant. I'm pulling all the old leaves."
Gabe: "I'll help you get all the grandparent ones."

He starts pulling all the old, shriveled leaves with her.

Gabriel Says

While putting Gabriel in bed for his quiet time I asked him what he did in school today. He told me they were talking about food and dinosaurs. I asked him what he learned about dinosaurs. He said they are "instinct." I asked him what extinct meant. He said that it means they are all gone. Out of curiosity I asked him why they were extinct. His answer: "Because they wouldn't fit on Noah's Ark."

Quotes

"Worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but, it doesn't get you anywhere."