This One's For The Ladies!

Father, who breathed into this precious friend...

I pray for this girl being formed into eternity...

May the wind always be in her hair

May the sky always be wide with hope above her

And may all the hills be an exhilaration.

The trials but a trail,

All the stones but stairs to God.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of grace.
Grace, the only dress that makes beautiful
The style of Your Spirit.

Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word.
Word, that makes her crave more of Christ,
Have hunger pangs for Him.

Enclose her in communion with You.
You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart into a roof
That absorbs storms for souls,
That make her tongue speak only the words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation:

Translating every enemy into esteemed guest.
Translating every countenance into the face of Christ.
Translating every burden into blessing.

When it's hard to be patient...make her willing to suffer.
When it's ridiculous to be thankful..make her see all is grace.
When it's radical to forgive...make her live the foundation of our faith.
And when it's time to work...make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and her laughter.
May she be thread and mend brokenness and knit hearts.
May she be dead to all ladders and never go higher, only lower, to the lonely, the least and the longing.
Her, led of the Spirit, to lead many to the Cross-
That leads to the tomb, wildly empty.

Amen...

(Ann Voskamp)