A Prayer For Talking About Racism With Children
A Prayer for Talking about Racism with Children
O compassionate and merciful Christ,
Help us remember even our youngest
Are perceptive to our world.
Guide us to validate their feelings
And meet our children where they are.
Help us talk about racism with our children,
O Word that became flesh,
And as we teach them about racism,
Naming it for what it is,
Keep us from minimizing racism’s legacy.
Help us commit to educating early and often.
O holy, mysterious Spirit,
Help us make space for
Big questions from little hearts,
Even if we can’t answer them.
Help us sit in the tension
And resist the urge to flee the uncomfortable,
For we know many do not have that privilege.
O Author of our faith,
Make our speech clear and honest.
Give us specific and direct language;
Root our words in history and truth.
And for the future, Lord, give us hope.
O Comforter who weeps,
Help us sit in a spirit of peace
As we wade into conversations,
But help us not resist our own deep emotions.
Help us embrace our humanity and, in turn,
Show our children
That it’s right and righteous
For all of us to be upset about injustice,
That it’s right and holy and of You
To make marginalized voices heard.
Help us repent of and lament
Any harm we may have caused,
And heal us from the ways
We may have benefited from,
Or been hurt by,
Oppressive systems that are not of You.
O good Shepherd who cares,
Help us make space for our children’s curiosity
About the world and all its people.
These conversations may be difficult,
But we know they are necessary.
Help us listen to Your promptings, O God,
As we support our children
In standing for Your boundless love
For all humankind.
O reconciling Christ,
Who calls us to be peacemakers,
We pray for true unity rooted in Your justice.
And in all things,
Help our families turn
From the worn-out ways of the world
To the life-giving ways of Your Kingdom,
Now and forevermore.
Amen.
Matthew 7:12; 1 John 4:19-21; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:20
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