Morton Family Prayer- 2006

Dear Lord,

As we gather around this incredible family get-together, it is quite obvious how your Holy Spirit and faith has guided us all over the last year.   Our love in God and in each other proves to be our biggest blessing.  From a love of husband to wife, mother to child, grandson to grandparent, and cousin to cousin, this blessing is an incredible bond, an incredible and rare thing, that has your fingerprints all over it, Lord.  But let us not forget all the other blessings you have graced us with, we must remember how truly blessed you have made each of us.

By simply having food in the refrigerator, clothes on our back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ...  we are richer than 80% of the entire world.

With money in the bank, in our wallet, or spare change in a dish some place...  we are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... We are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

By not ever having to experience the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... we are ahead of 500 million people in the world who face this on a daily basis.

Because we can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...we are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you can read this prayer as I do, you just received a double blessing as you are more blessed than the over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

If your parents are still alive and still married...  You are very rare- even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful... You are blessed because while the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder... You are blessed because we can offer a healing touch in your Spirit.

Lord, please continue to make us recognize our blessings
to be faithful to our day-to-day duties,
to bear the cares and tribulations of life,
to be open and generous to the needs of others,
to provide divine charity through your Holy Spirit
to strengthen the sacrament of marriage and the raising of our children
and to fulfill with joy the plan of God has for us and ahead of us with human dignity that only you can provide.

Amen