Prayer

A prayer, for those who grieve

God, Giver of Life

Lover of our souls, Savior

Open up for us in this hour (but not just for this hour), we pray,

A window on eternity

A glimpse of glory.

Help us to celebrate the moments past

And await in joyful hope

the day of promise,

when there will be no more death,

nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain,

because the former things are passed away.

Grant us grace, dear Lord, to release into your strong hand this one,

beloved by you and by us,

to be in your care in the promise of life forevermore.

For those who feel most keenly the pain of separation,

we seek the comfort of your Presence,

for in You all live,

and in Your presence every moment partakes of eternity,

and touches every other moment.

In You, as we draw near,

all that we love draws near to us.

Sanctify the memories

and may they sweeten the hearts of those who hold them.

And may every prayer,

even every tear,

be transformed by your miraculous Presence

into a gift of joy,

every memory

a blessing of gratitude.

In Christ, the victor over death, we pray.

Amen.

Borrowed from Fearful Symmetry, (which is probably the coolest blog name I've heard in a long time...but that could be because I'm a literature nerd.) :)