Some of Your gifts have come to us in strange form!

(J.R. Miller, "Family Prayers")

Father, let Your face shine upon our home today. We thank You for it. May it be . . .
  a shelter to us from the world's storms,
  a nest of love,
  a school where we may learn love's lessons, and
  where we may grow into the beauty of Christlikeness.
We pray continually that our home may become more and more like Heaven. Teach all of us how to live, so as to add to its sweetness.

Come and be a guest in our home. Then its love will become sweeter, and more and more holy. For Your presence gives light, blessing, and joy. Make our home, Your home. Dwell with us. Then we shall be happy. Then we shall live beautifully together.

We thank You for Your goodness to us this past week. You have showered Your blessings upon us with a most bountiful hand. You have given us favors of many kinds. Some of Your gifts have come to us in strange form — in trials, in burdens, in disappointments, in losses. Still we know that they are Your gifts, and as such, have in them good and blessing for our lives. Give us grace to accept whatever You send to us, knowing that Your love can never give us anything but kindness. Even if the cup is bitter — may we be enabled to accept it. We would get near to Your heart, we would creep into Jesus' bosom, into His everlasting arms, and be still.