A Prayer for the Pandemic

I wrote a prayer for those on my mind lately. Feel free to add your own petitions-

For parents who find themselves facilitating home education.
For teachers learning an entirely new way to teach.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For mothers who labor and deliver alone.
For newborns and mothers separated moments after birth.
For partners, doulas, midwives, birth photographers, and lactation consultants who must find new ways to bring life into the world and nurture new parents.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For the homeless facing closed shelters, closed soup kitchens, and closed public restrooms & no warm buildings.
For the poor who have no transportation to pick up free meals, children who go to bed with hungry bellies, and parents who skip meals to feed their babies.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For the abused, victimized, and neglected for whom every day is a living nightmare.
For the trafficked and enslaved.
For those who are on the held personally responsible for things out of their control.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For those with special needs and learning disabilities who don’t transition well.
For the teachers, social skills instructions, occupational therapists, speech therapists, learning coaches, and all who serve these folks from a distance.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For the homeopaths, naturopaths, herbalists, functional medicine doctors, and all finding alternative ways to treat this.
For those MDs, nurses, ER docs, hospital staff, and all finding conventional medicine ways to treat this.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For the priests, pastors, deacons, worship leaders, choir directors, and all reimagining church & nurturing their flock.
For the counselors, spiritual directors, therapists, and helpers who are helping us navigate while processing their own grief and trauma.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For those stuck in moldy homes getting sicker by the day- whether they realize it or not.
For those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities who are in a health nightmare with all the hand sanitizer and cleaning products everywhere.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For the farmers, backyard gardeners, and ranchers working to replenish our food supply.
For my husband and all the grocery store employees.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For the mold avoiders, EMF refugees, chemically sensitive, and all who can’t stay in “normal” homes.
For the full-time travelers and nomads who face closed campground after closed campground.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For those who will see their loved one to a hospital and never see them again.
For those who die alone and those who cannot be by their bedside.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For authors with canceled book launch tours and events, canceled speaking arrangements, and watching declining sales.
For the writers pouring their hearts into their work to offer us hope and of truth.
For my dear Hopewriters.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For podcasters and YouTube creators who are continuing their craft to a changed audience.
For musicians and artists with canceled gigs and projects who are creating and giving freely.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For those for whom “social distancing” and “self-isolation” are a regular way of life and will continue long after this is over.
For those filing for unemployment and wondering how long it will take to recover financially.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For my fellow chronic illness warriors for whom every cough, sneeze, sore throat, or sniffle makes them worried.
For my Grandparents who can’t leave their home and pray they don’t need medical care until this is over.
For those with chronic pain who can’t get bodywork to help.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For those who seek to profit financially and those who will stop at nothing to do so.
For those who exploit, lie, misrepresent, contort, act, and fuel fear rather than love.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.