A Prayer for the Lost (for the people who've gone and the ones left behind)
This is a prayer for the lost. It's for the people you've loved and lost and still love. It's for you when you feel like you're the one who needs to be carried.
We all need help carrying the weight of what hurts more than anything.
And so here's a prayer for you. For the love that keeps you from being too far apart. Even on the days when the people you love feel too far away.
A Prayer for the Lost
To the ones who've gone before me ~
Free from earthly troubles,
may you be weightless in your very soul.
For all the pain you've ever felt,
May you know peace and wholeness
and love forevermore.
May you be so blessed now
that you bless those you've gone before.
May you be so vast, so unlimited
that you help lift the burdens of the world.
From your place in eternity,
help me live lightly while it's still my time to be here.
Help me walk in gratitude, trusting, in love.
Help me give and receive with pleasure and mercy.
Lift my eyes to see the beauty above
and all that's still left around me.
For all the days I feel the weight of the world,
may your truth keep me company.
May you be there for the tears and the joys,
and for all the moments in between.
Like the air carries the sun softly as it sets
through the trees, reaching into every burrow,
May your light permeate my life.
May I never long forget to feel my life as I live it.
And may I always feel you walking with me.
May this be so. Let it be so. And so it is.
. . .
Tell me:
Which part of this prayer did you need the most today?
Tell me in the comments. I read every single one, and I'd love to know.
Love,
Jen
P.S. Need more light today? Get an imperfect poetry print that celebrates their existence, and your own, and the love you still share. And always will. You'll feel better every time you see it.
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Comments on this post (11)
Alison, thank you for writing this to me… it made my day. I’m so glad this prayer could help you and be what you needed to read. Lots of love to you ~ Jen
— Jennifer Williamson
Hi Jen,
These words really touched my heart and you have no idea how much I needed to hear every single word of that prayer. Thanks for sharing a little piece of your heart.
- Alison
— Alison
Hi Jen,
These words really touched my heart and you have no idea how much I needed to hear every single word of that prayer. Thanks for sharing a little piece of your heart.
- Alison
— Alison
Veronica, thank you for sharing a bit of your story, your grief and healing with me. I’m so sorry that you couldn’t physically be with your mom this Mother’s Day again… I hope you continue to feel her presence with you for the rest of your days. I’m grateful you’re here, reminding me I’m not alone either. Thank you for that, and for your courage to share and feel ~ jen
— Jennifer Williamson
Good Morning Jen
This is just what I needed to read this morning, My Mom passed away in 2014 and with mother’s day behind me I found myself having a difficult time getting through that day this year. My Mom was very spiritual and she was not only my mom but my best friend.
I see signs of her everywhere and it brings me great joy and sometimes tears which is what I found happening to me on Mother’s day.
I miss her dearly.
Thank you for your time and inspiration.
Veronica
— Veronica Wright
Bobbi, I’m so, so humbled and glad that this prayer brought you comfort and peace where other methods have not. I believe our loved ones are still “here” in some way, their guidance and grace still present and part of our lives, and who we are. Thank you for sharing this with me. It brightened my whole week, just knowing this resonated with you in a deep and real way. Your grandfather sounds like he was a wonderful person, and loved you very much. I send you my love across the page, I hope you feel it in and between every word. xx
— Jennifer Williamson
Hi Jen,
I am new to your blog, and I love it. I have, for a very long time, tried to understand my feelings and express them to myself in a way that I appreciate regarding my Grandfathers passing 12 years ago. I am religious but was not able to find the solace I needed in my faith. My family did not/could not understand the extreme guilt I have felt for not being enough of what he needed to save him. My grandfather is the only man who did not take advantage of a little girl and the only man who has never hurt me. He is my saving grace. I talk to him every day, I know he is here with me, and this poem has finally given me some peace with what I have not been able to say myself.
Thank you!
— Bobbi
David, I’m so glad to hear your daughter would have loved this. I too can be very private about prayer and the way I connect to… everything. It makes me smile knowing you enjoyed and appreciated this, in your own way. I hope it was as healing for you to read as it was for me to write.
— Jennifer Williamson
Hi Jen,
My daughter Rebecca would have loved this prayer precisely because you don’t mention a higher power. She was very spiritual, but very private about spirituality. She and I never connected with organized religions. The images conjured by reading this prayer are truly refreshing.
David
— David Thakar
Hey Jack! So nice to hear from you!
And I totally understand where you’re coming from, but this prayer felt right and comforting for me as I was writing it, feeling connected to my brother and father and the great source of energy and inspiration that holds us all. It might look different than how you pray, but I think that’s okay. And I think this higher power won’t mind that this is how I was able to open up and receive inspiration. Inspiration is all from/through spirit, after all… that’s what the word means, anyway. :)
I write for everyone who has lost, but wants to feel connected — through that source, whatever they call it. I’m so glad you’re here and reading. Thank you for that and your thoughts!
Love, Jen
— Jennifer Williamson
Good morning Jen!
I think the person (s) you prayed about are worshipped only as a loved one who have passed on.
Praying to those, from you isn’t as powerful as praying to a higher power. Let the higher power take away all pain.
Your prayer is logical only if you have a higher power to govern.
Blessings from above?
I know you don’t want to mention Jesus because this is not what this blog is all about, I think. I like the direction you are in and will enjoy your transformation. I just hope that it comes from the Holy Spirit because that’s where you should be getting your inspiration from!
Let it out Jen. Let it grow.
I’m still have a daily prayer for you and glad I invested in this metamorphosis. You have been given a beautiful gift from God. Bless him and he will bless you.
Think big!
Love to you Jen.
Your friend,
Jack
— Jack