A Child’s Prayer

A Child’s Prayer

“Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?” 

—Alma 5:55

“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

—Matthew 25:40

“Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” 

—I John 3:18

Dear God—

Father, Mother, Being above me who holds the prayers of Earth’s children, 

I never believed much in thoughts and prayers—they seemed to be a silly strategy to me. But I am scared, and I believe in prayer about as much as I believe in anything else these days. God, forgive me for wishing prayers worked. 

To the God who created all things holy, all things beautiful,

To the Creator of all broken things, the Creator of the dissonance I cannot escape now, 

To the Savior of frightened children,

To the Savior of children whose bravery is not their choice,

I pray for the new arrivals to this place that I call home. May this land continue to give people new beginnings. I pray for the neighbors who are scared, for the families who weren’t given a chance to put roots down, for the families whose roots in this land are deeper than mine. 

I pray that language and color will not be the things that bring this country to her knees. 

I pray for the trans kids. I pray for their parents, for the adults who want to pass on a better world. I pray for those who have committed the crime of self-actualization, for those whose authenticity took up too much space, for the elders who never thought they would have to fight the same fight again. 

I pray for the bodies carrying children they did not choose, for the victims of violence no one should have to understand. I pray for the mothers who don’t know if their bodies will make it to 40 weeks, who have no choice but to prepare for the worst. 

I pray for the kids who were raised on active shooter drills, who don’t believe they’ll live past 25. I pray for the banned books and the dropping literacy rates, for anyone who has seen police violence up close, for the unhoused, the cold, and the hungry. I pray that whatever comes after this life is kinder and more merciful than here. 

I pray for healing and peace, for the chance to worry about little things again. I pray that the grief won’t consume us, that the burden can become lighter. I pray for bravery, for safety, for mercy. 

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen