Mary Sullivan

“And the peace of God

Which surpasses all understanding

Will keep Your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Phil. 4:6-7)

Father we have grown so anxious.

We have so many dreaded fears.

As we wonder what is happening,

What will be brought, in coming years?

Help us, Father, rich in mercy,

To put all anxiety aside.

May our fears transform to prayers.

May frantic fears subside.

Give us hearts of deep thanksgiving,

Make our hearts like unto Thine.

May Your peace pervade our living.

May hope today, in our hearts shine.

May we be bright lights for You,

With dispositions, kind and pleasant.

Stop us from thinking far ahead.

Help us just live this moment present.

Father, hear our cries to heaven,

As to You we kneel in prayer.

Humbled by this cross we carry.

We offer You our every care.

Touch our loved ones with Your mercy.

May temptations at last cease.

Grant them wisdom to see clearly.

Bless us all, Father, with Your peace.

It’s good to have a thankful heart,

out of the gate, and from the start.

If we could cultivate an attitude of gratitude,

If we could do ourselves this favor,

to be thankful, never waver,

Thanking God for each new day,

Thanking God for finding something kind to say

Come what may,

Would we live eternal bliss if not a moment would we miss,

to thank God for what He’s given us.

So many little gifts through life,

A hand of comfort during strife,

That smile when we were feeling down,

It came and swept away our frown.

If we could skip the ingrate trap,

Thank God for water from the tap,

clean air to breathe, a sun that shines,

If we could put away our whines.

If we could but be thankful now,

See not the shattered dreams and broken pieces,

See not the tears and wrinkled creases,

But see all things as on the mend,

And His love that never ceases.

If we were thankful for the prayers—not just the answered ones that please,

But for the unanswered ones, which keep us ever on our knees,

And close to Him who calms our souls and stills the stormy seas.

If thankful wishes we could send,

Until we reached our final end,

If we were thankful for each sorrow we had borne,

For each day we’d struggled to feel not forlorn

If we could be thankful not just for the win,

But for the chance to lift, carry this cross with Him.

If we could thank God for each mile,

Would that please God, would He smile?

Thanking God for this day.

Thanking God, we have “God’s ways”

Thanking Him upon Whom all life depends.

Thanking God for ever-faithful friends,

Like you, who on this day,

Will join with us to pray.

This Thanksgiving, it’s true, we may be in pain.

And that’s something we need not deny or feign.

From loved ones, we may be estranged or apart.

Yet Lord, we give to You, our thankful hearts.

Thank You, Lord, for Your gift of love.

Thank You, Lord, for grace from above.

Thank You, Father, for feeling our pain,

For seeing us through the storms and the rain.

For Your quiet, and steadfast, small and still voice.

For the birth of Jesus, in Whom we rejoice.

For shielding us from, falls into despair,

For hearing our cries, for answering our prayers.

Thank You Jesus, for what You have done.

For our salvation, which, through Your cross, was won.

Thank you for Your love, and for Your care.

For the Holy Sacraments; and finding You there.

Thank You, Holy Spirit.  We are not alone.

You beckon us towards our final home.

Thank you, Blessed Mother, you care like no other.

You are our Queen, and our loving Mother.

Thank you, dear saints, who with a pure love,

Pray for us with fervor, from heaven above.

Father in heaven, this war will be won.

For You guide our feet in the path of Your Son.

May we ever give thanks, with hearts pure and true.

We thank You for life, pray for each loved one too.

Lord, bless them with hearts, pure, thankful and new.

Lord, bless them with hearts, which seek only You.

“Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?”  (Jer. 15:18)

Lord, at times this heavy cross

can seem too much to bear.

It goes on and on.

Yet, we know that You are there.

Free us from this misery.

Show to us the way,

May Your love and peace shine in us,

shine in us today.

Your love is the answer

To every pierce of pain,

We will find sweet relief,

if in You we remain.

May we find new life in truth,

And find new life in You.

May we stay with You not just today,

but all of our lives through.