When I Cannot Sleep…I Pray, by Shara Cooper

Heavenly Father,
I thank you for blessing me with breath in my body to see another day. I thank you for the health of my body to be strong another day. I thank you for keeping me peaceful in my mind to be normal another day.
Father, your blessings upon me are far too many that I will never be able to number them all. I desire to thank you for each one. I cannot. Even so, Father, I thank you for reminding me how very blessed that I am. It is easy to forget Father. Easy to lose sight. Father, let my heart never lift from being a heart full of gratitude unto you.
I thank you that you have kept me safe and protected all these 13 plus years incarcerated. I thank you for never leaving my side. When I feel alone you comfort me. I thank you. In my times of uncertainty you carry me. I thank you.
Father, I thank you for knowing all about me, forgiving me completely, and loving me totally. I don’t fully understand you amazing love knowing that I am so unworthy. Yet, it feels so good to have your love. I thank you for forgiving me. I thank you for loving me.
Father, I thank you for easing the pain that I often feel when I think upon my life undone. I thank you for allowing me to cry. I thank you for wiping every tear from my eyes. I thank you for holding me so close that I feel your tangible presence near.
Father, I thank you. I have so very much to be thankful for.
I thank you for opening my eyes and giving me discernment. I thank you for showing me my friends from my enemies. I thank you for being my faithful friend. I thank you for shielding me from all of the schemes of those who dislike me. I thank you for helping me to forgive them and not return the wrong they do to me. I thank you Father for teaching me how to love and forgive all people, even those who want to be against me.
I thank you for hope. I thank you for giving me the sense of purpose. I thank you for not allowing me to drawn in the lostness of this place. Father, I thank you.
Father, I thank you for my family and friends who have been so faithful to love me. I thank you for blessing them that they may be able to bless me.
Father, I thank you that I am not alone because you are always with me.
Father, I thank you that the disappointments did not kill me. I thank you for healing my wounded soul. I thank you for light even in this dark place. I thank you Father.
Father, I am just so thankful to be thankful. I thank you for a grateful heart rather than a bitter negative heart.
Father, I thank you for sweet sleep. I thank you for a heart full of joy and life. I thank you for peace.
I thank you that I am just thankful.
Father, I thank you.

Shara Cooper
DOC #163560