DAY NINE

A PRAYER FOR HEALING OF MEMORIES

Lord Jesus, I ask you to enter this person who has need of Your healing.  I rejoice that as the light of Your love now fills this mansion of the soul, all darkness shall flee.  Look and see, O Lord, whether there are any ugly pictures on the wall, pictures of old distress and horrifying wounds of the past.  If there are such pictures, take them down and give to this memory-house pictures of beauty and joy.

Go back, Lord, through all the rooms of this memory-house.  Open every closed door and see if there is any dirty and broken thing that is no longer needed.  If so, Lord, take it away completely.  Go back even to the years of childhood.  Open windows long sealed and let in the gentle sunlight of Your love.  Take a broom of mercy and seep away the shame of ancient memories.

Follow the soul of this Your child all the way back to the hour of birth and heal even the pain and fear of being born.  I pray that You will restore this soul as you made it and will quicken it in all those creative impulses that You have placed therein, so that Your purpose may be fulfilled.

I give thanks, O Lord, knowing that this healing of the soul is Your will and is the very purpose for the giving of Your life for us . . . and therefore it is even now being accomplished.