Dear Lord,
We give thanks for your beautiful creation,
the green of the trees,
the bright colors of the flowers,
the owl’s greetings at night,
and the birds early morning chirps.
We savor the coolness of the breeze,
and the first jump into the lake.
We wait for the fireflies to light up the sky,
and marvel at the stars above.
We give thanks for food shared with friends,
the picnic tables full of snacks and sandwiches,
the prayers sung before meals,
the laughter shared between bites,
the quench of cold water,
and watermelon juice that drips down our arms.
We give thanks for friends,
the ones who know when we’re feeling lonely,
and offer their hand in friendship,
the ones who make us laugh,
and the ones who help us step out of our comfort zone.
We give thanks for evening campfires,
the dancing of light from the flames,
arms wrapped around one another,
swaying back and forth with the guitars,
stories, songs, and inspiration,
the ending of a day,
the promise of a star-filled sky.
Be with us, Lord, in these moments of joy and learning.
Open our hearts to see you in the faces of friends,
the majesty of a setting sun,
the silliness of songs,
and the stories declaring your love for each of us.
Teach us to sing and dance,
Rejoice,
Listen,
And be still.
This is our camper’s prayer,
be with us, Lord.
Amen.
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ordained ELCA pastor, mother of two, and spouse of an ELCA pastor. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, MO. You can read more at her website. Or follow her work on Facebook.