Slideshow image

I was listening with a person this week who was telling me about a difficult situation with her son. “I know I should set boundaries. I know I should let go. But it’s so hard.” I could only agree with her. The saying of “Let go and let God” is wise but doesn’t come with how-to instructions. It’s a spiritual practice that everyone is forced to practice at some time in their lives. It touches the very foundation of whether or not we trust God more than ourselves.

 Many years ago, I read a prayer from the book, Surrender: A guide for prayer by Jacqueline Syrup Bergan and S. Marie Schwan. There is a prayer in the appendix by an unknown author. At the time, it gave me both solace and perspective in my own need for letting go of a friend. I thought I would share it as its words never lose their wisdom.

 

“To a dear one about whom I have been concerned---

 I behold the Christ in you.

I place you lovingly in the care of the Father.

I release you from my anxiety and concern.

I let go of my possessive hold on you.

I am willing to free you to follow the dictates

      of your indwelling Lord.

I am willing to free you to live your life

      according to your best light and understanding.

Husband, wife, child, friend—

I no longer try to force my ideas on you,

      my ways on you.

I lift my thoughts above you, above the personal level.

I see you as God sees you, a spiritual being, created

      in God’s image, and endowed with qualities and abilities

      that make you needed, and important—not only to me but

      to God and God’s larger plan.

I do not bind you; II no longer believe that you do not have

      the understanding you need in order to meet life.

I bless you.

      I have faith in you.

            I behold Jesus in you.”  Amen.

 

Wherever in your life that you know you need to let go, I offer the grace and peace of this prayer as you practice this difficult thing to do. 

 

Pastor Marcia Wakeland is a retired ELCA pastor, a spiritual director and a listening advocate. She is interested in the actual experience of having faith and how that is lived out. She can be reached at mwakeland@gmail.com for comments or more questions Her ongoing blog of living out spiritual practices is listeninglife.live