Here’s another new coronavirus prayer, to help support and encourage you during the continuing crisis.
Lord,
so much of the advice we are being given at the moment is about self:
keep yourself safe;
distance yourself from others;
protect yourself;
don’t put yourself at risk.
It’s all very sound and sensible,
and we need to follow it,
but save us from using it as an excuse to forget others,
and shutting our eyes to their needs.
Where people are grieving,
help us to weep with them.
Where they are hurting,
help us to ache with them.
Where they are anxious,
help us to reassure them.
Where they are lonely,
help us to reach out to them.
Where they are downhearted,
help us to cheer them.
Where they are frightened,
help us to bolster them.
Where they are despairing,
help us to inspire them.
Where they are broken,
help us to mend them.
Where they are at their wits’ end,
help us to calm them.
We may not be able to do much, Lord,
but we can all do a little,
simply by showing that we care.
As well as ourselves, then,
help us,
meaningfully and lovingly,
to think of others too.
Amen.