In our readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent we are challenged to get ready to welcome Jesus. What do we need to do or change about ourselves to be ready to meet him? Over and over the Bible challenges us to be more loving, more compassionate. Very often what stops us being compassionate to others is our lack of compassion for ourselves. This fabulous prayer has been written by Alison Webster as part of the Oxford Diocesan health, well-being and social care group. May it help us know the abundance of God’s love so that we can share it openly with others.

A Prayer for World Mental Health Day – By Alison Webster

God of compassion,
You meant us to be both fragile and ordinary.
Silence the voices that say we are not good enough, 
Haven’t achieved enough,
Haven’t enough to show for our lives,
That we are not enough.
Help us to know that we are treasure, 
We are prized,
We are cherished,
We are loved.
Infinitely.
By you.
So be with us in our corrugations of feeling:
When our hearts are in downward freefall, be with us 
When our minds race with anxiety, be with us
When our throats close in fear, be with us
When sleep will not come, be with us
When waking hurts, be with us.
In the name of Jesus,
Who knew trauma, abuse, despair and abandonment 
And has nothing but love for us,
Amen.