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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Today’s Reflection

MY NEW TRINITY of jobs, family, and studies left no time or energy for the contemplative practices to which I had become accustomed. But one late night as I was rocking newborn Monica and longing for the monastery’s quiet, warm solitude, an awareness began to grow. I began to pay attention to my surroundings.

What I noticed was this: I was sitting in a darkened, warm place, surrounded by silence; I was sharing a time of communal solitude with the tiny person in my arms; I was feeling a deep, rejuvenating rest, a kind of waking sleep. Here was a new version of silence, solitude, and sleep—one fitting my changed situation. And I noticed something more: I had a sense of being held and rocked in loving compassion. Not only that, but I also felt that same sense of compassionate love for Monica. I was holding her in my arms of loving compassion.

—Andrew Dreitcer, Living Compassion: Loving Like Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

As an adult, do you ever feel “held and rocked”?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
—Isaiah 66:13 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, make me an instrument of your compassion.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

Reverend Junius B. Dotson was preaching at a funeral when suddenly he realized he wasn’t going to make it through the service. The next thing he knew, he was in an ambulance on the way to the ER, where he was diagnosed with extreme exhaustion. Read more about his Soul Reset.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 18, 2019 6:16 am

    Can’t remember “held and rocked”. That’s a long time ago. Have felt supported and secure.

    Wonderful weather is making it easier to refinish the deck. Very thankful for that, more progress with my window cleaning. Have had some problems with an expected UPS delivery, hopefully they are fixed and it will come today. My
    oral surgery stitches come out today.

    Thankful for Bible study yesterday, discussion of faith and grace. Have to revisit daily reflection posts and catch up. Prayers for the needs of the UR family. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted September 18, 2019 8:21 am

    I have not felt held and comforted since I was young and my grandparents treated me thusly. I can’t evn say I feel “supported and secure” as Robert meentioned. I feel the opposite more and more each day in my home situation.
    Prayers for Robert as he has his oral stitches removed. May the healing be complete and may he have no more oral issues.
    Prayers for physical healing for Andrea, Connie, Erich, Marcy and Robert.
    Prayers for Mary and her wonderful example of joy always.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry and their getting through the anniversary day by keeping busy and sharing a meal together. DuBois is quite a far distance from where you live. I go by there on my way to visit my mother.
    Prayers for April, BJ, Betsy, and Lou.
    I miss hearing from so many of our UR family. I have told Megan that I intend to show her how to access this board so that if something happens that prevents me from posting she will be able to inform the UR faithful.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear UR friends

  • Carol Garland Posted September 18, 2019 8:21 am

    This morning’s reflection brought back precious memories. I have had the privilege of holding three babies in the middle of the night, my two children and a grandchild. I remember these times as the most beautiful. There is nothing like sitting in a darkened room in the night. Nobody is there except you, the baby and God. It is so peaceful and a very special bonding takes place. These are among my most precious memories. I am now 77 and those memories are still very dear to me.

  • Bj Posted September 18, 2019 11:05 am

    Good morning, UR family! Thank You, Lord for this day. Yes, I feel helded and rocked with the blessings that God bestore on me when 2 of my younger children always sharing and caring for me. I feel very blessed when I read UR reflections. I know the reading of the Bible is the Word from God, other commentaries are help outs. And still I always have enjoyed these reflections and the prayer warriors in this group. I am a baptist and been at the same church since I was 12. The Lord has really worked on me and in me. This group cares and shares and I love it all. Prayers that we want be distracted or get frustrated on today. Julie, I live in mississippi.

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