Daughter,
I hope you dance
with the Author of Life.

Feel free always,
please.

Sway with the tips of trees,
and
listen
to the whispers of winds.

Allow
laughter
to pour freely
through you like
a wild river of life
through dust,
always creating something new …

I hope you
rest your eyes
as sweet peace rises
like the sun all around you.

I hope you bask in the Light
without a care in the world and
wake up when you’re ready,
when you can feel the warmth on your brow,
when you’re hungry for a new adventure …

I know eventually you’ll shiver
with the leaves
before a storm
and taste the bitter rain –
I hope you’ll have the grace
to open your heart wide enough
to contain the shock
of lightning –
life is such that you will be burned.

Remember when it happens,
you have the capacity to hold all the things –
the miracles and the sorrows,
the vast oceans teaming with life
and the charred ruins.

The grandeur of life fully charged
is yours to live fully
in whatever way you choose,
a gift from the One who created
all the wonder of this world and beyond –
including precious you.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 15:11 ““I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

1 Peter 4 12-13 ““Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

2 Corinthians 6 1-13

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

What does it mean to you to “live life to the full”? Have you been able to reconcile the sorrows of your life with God’s unending love and promises to you and your vocation? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lord help us to fully embrace the life you have given us! Help us to recognize Your presence in nature, people, events, prayer and the interior life of our spirit. Give us the grace to follow You even through trials and tribulations, that we may fully embrace the joys and sorrows of a life well lived that you promised us, for Your glory and to share it with others. In Jesus name, Amen.

written by Nicky Gant http://www.uniteinprayer.org 3/12/2021