A Mom and More

My 50^th birthday prayer

Inspired by the familial love I felt all around me and in thanksgiving for God’s gift of a half-century of life on earth, I prayed before our usual graces:

Lord, thank you -

For your gift of life and love for the past 50 years;

For my beautiful and loving family who made my happy moments brighter, more meaningful, and more colorful and my tough times lighter, more bearable and hopeful;

For real friends you’ve strewn along my way who’ve been by my side come what may;

For the rewarding career I had with the government and the chance to do business on my own;

For enabling me to see the magnificence of your creation in our country and abroad;

For blessing me with good health, an unwavering faith and the strength to carry on – knowing that the best is yet to come in Your time.

Lord, forgive me for my failings and foibles and

Continue to give me the inspiration to move on, learn from my blunders and falls, re-purpose myself and start over.

As I turn 50 and see life’s sunset and sunrise in a single frame,

Lord, help me -

Age positively, gracefully and meaningfully; and

Accept that the wrinkles, sags, white hairs and achy joints are not defects but reminders that I have struggled, survived, learned, grown and persisted in life through this day.

Help me surrender some plans and dreams which are not aligned to Your will;

Help me be more creative as I use my experience and talents in touching others lives, courageous as I face new challenges and compassionate as I try to understand others beyond their spoken words.

Let me live for meaning, for a higher purpose beyond money, status and others’ applause as I thrive through life’s surprises and adversities with the softness and strength which only You can give me in my journey towards being the Alice you meant me to be, Amen.