Handshakes, smiles and kisses.  Laughter, long slow breaths of mountain air and kids having a great time just being kids.  Sights that bring gasp to the heart and tears to the eyes, sonnets, and bonnet-wearing African American Women with their kindness and strength.  How men will run in front of buses, trains, bullets and bad economies in defense of people that they barely even know.  Wishes, clean water and butter.  Mistakes to point me to growth, pain to make me grow up and character that makes me spit out the dirt, wipe off the debris and get back into the fight.  One True God who never changes and keeps everything including me suspended in space, time and glorious life.

Women to test us and keep us from thinking we have anything mastered.  Gifted with their unique hearts, minds, faces and fashions who desperately want justice and love peace.  Dogs that steal your spot whether it’s cool or hot.  Cats who go catatonic when you scratch that space right in front of their ear.  Nights that make the world slow down and days so bright that even ugly things seem washed in glory.  Words to construct things born in the mind, stored in the heart trying desperately to be set free.  Pats on the back, whispers of encouragement or correction, spoken solely for our benefit.  Men who love obediently and women who honor out of truth while kids listen intently and respectfully.  Cold, hot and spicy that seasons life and changes things up, especially while it rains like the sky opened up.

Lord God we are humbled by what You have freely given for us out of love.  Let us give back even a portion of that grace by loving each other in the same way.  We await Your arrival in faith, light and truth.  Let us light the way with Your reflection in our eyes.  Let our hearts open fences to free the forgotten, lost and faithless.  Give us just what we need in order to do what must be done, in Your Holy Name Lord God by all the riches and glory through Christ Jesus our King.  Amen.  Forgive us so that we may be unbridled to do the same for all.