On Thanksgiving day my family received some very hard news about one of our own family members. The kind of news that causes you to pause and reflect on the brevity of life, and remember that every single day is a gift.  

As we sat together in the hospital processing the news both collectively and individually, my mind immediately recalled a prayer that is recited every morning at The Saint Constantine School: 

“O Lord, grant me thy peace to greet all this day is to bring. Grant me the grace to surrender myself completely to thy holy will. In every hour of this day instruct and guide me in all things. Whatever tidings I may receive in this day, teach me to accept tranquilly, in the firm belief that thy holy will governs all. Govern thou my thoughts and feelings in all that I do and say. When unforeseen things occur, let me not forget that all is sent by thee. Teach me to behave sincerely and reasonably towards everyone, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to no one. Bestow on me, O Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in its events. Guide thou my will. Teach me how to pray. Pray thou thyself within me. Amen.”  

I am not from an Orthodox background, so, under other circumstances, it is not likely I would have known this prayer. I am deeply grateful that the daily rhythm of prayer at this school instilled in me such beautiful words to cling to in a moment of crisis.  

This Advent, as we look forward to the celebration of Christ’s birth, holding tightly to both grief and joy, I am reflecting on the text to the beautiful Christmas hymn "All is Well": 

All is well, all is well 
Angels and men rejoice 
For tonight darkness fell 
Into the dawn of love’s light 
Sing Alleluia  

Or, as Julian of Norwich put it, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

Christ came to Earth incarnate. Emmanuel, God is with us. All is well.