An Advent Prayer for Writers

"But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart." 

-Luke 2:19

We, too, Mary, keep words--

we ponder them, cherish them, gather them up

like treasures 

spilled from children's tongues, 

gleaned from dictionary pages, 

shining out of Christmas cards.

Sometimes we hoard them,

keep our words close,

so we can open boxes of words on cloudy days,

and let the glory of sunlight pour out.

But you, Mary, released your words

--and The Word--

into the world,

at the appointed time.

You made words flesh,

giving yourself to give them life.

Help us, too, to be so giving.

Help us to find words, 

and embrace them,

in unexpected places, 

like the lips of shepherds.

Then let us, while we ponder, 

feed the words and let them grow.

And then let us free them

to go about the Father's business.

Let us magnify the Lord!