Jack Emmott – Page 4 – Bending Angel

Prayer for Room in the Manger in My Heart – December 24, 2018 – by Jack Emmott

December 23, 2018 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Birth of Christ with Angels, Pedro Berruguete, Italian 15th century

Heavenly Father – As I pray in Advent darkness please help me make room in the manger of my heart for the light of Christ to soon dwell. I have brothers and sisters in Christ who have little or no food to eat or water to drink or a stable for comfort or shelter. Out of the fruit of my labors may I generously give in Your Holy Name my time and money to Your less fortunate children who have so much more of so much less. As Mary borne baby Jesus, the King of Kings, please make room in the manger of my heart for me to carry the love and light of Your blessed Son to others so in need of Holy hope, healing and sustenance. Amen.

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Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.

Prayer for the Widows We Adore – December 16, 2018

December 16, 2018 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

God – Thanks for the widows we adore and for the wreath which hangs on our door.

This wreath came from the widow we adore. She is Barbara, my sister in law. Like widows around the world, she lost her true love Gordon in the summer of 2017. This is the second Christmas without him. Although the glimmer of Christmas joy dimmed with Gordon’s passing, she has kept on living and kept on giving of herself to others.

Her husband was my brother-in-law Gordon. In the strength You gifted Barbara, every day before he died, she made sure that Gordon lived a more complete and meaningful life even as he lost each toe, foot, leg, and organ to Agent Orange.

Sadly, I am unable to place Gordon under Barbara’s Christmas tree this year. But, in prayer I can place the praise I have for her in the manger of her heart and mine.

God, below I am reposting my previous prayer for Gordon in hopes that those who read it will see the power of Your abiding love and blessings which flow from Barbara and widows everywhere. Their healing works hang in our hearts with beauty as the wreath on our front door.
God, please strengthen Barbara and all widows on the Earth by filling the vacuum left in the wake of husbands departed with Your Grace and Your Holy, Healing, Comforting Spirit. Amen.

Prayer in Memory Carl Gordon Lansford.

Lord, please read these words to Gordon from me.

Dear Gordon,
My brother-in-law,
My brother in Christ,
I give thanks to God for you.

I am so proud of you.
At age 18 you fought so bravely in the Vietnam War.
America did not win that war.
But, you won three Purple Hearts.
Those symbols of courage were not enough
For the VFW Chapter in your town
To let you in when you came home.
Yet, thanks be to God,
There was always room in the inn of His heart for you.

As a decorated soldier, you fought your greatest battle
After you set foot again on American soil.
You courageously and optimistically faced, one by one,
The ravages of Agent Orange.
The amputation of your legs.
The loss of feeling in your hands and arms.
Kidney failure.
Scarred lungs.
Dialysis.
Doggedly fighting for the healthcare and governmental benefits
Every uniformed American soldier should be awarded
As a tribute for service to our Country.

As with my own bride, Dorothy,
God sent you an angelic wife, Barbara.
He made sure that when there was less and less of you in the physical,
There was more of more of God’s Grace and love in the spiritual
In Barbara’s inexhaustible devotion and care for you.

Today,
Gordon, you lost the final battle
Which you and none of us can ever win.
Yet, you received victory of eternal life over death
Because the God you served
Made the ultimate and greatest sacrifice for you.

God’s purpose for your creation has been fulfilled.

I pray that you enjoy the Heavenly peace,
The freedom of pain,
The joy,
You have so long deserved.

Peace. Love. The Light of Christ to you.

Amen.

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Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.

Prayer in Thanksgiving for the Life and Service of President Bush – December 9, 2018

December 9, 2018 by Jack Emmott 2 Comments

L-R Jack. President Bush. Senator Harkin.

Jack. President Bush. Houston Mayor Bob Lanier

L-R Jack. Barbara Epperson (Luncheon Chair). President Bush.

Dear God, when I received the news that President Bush, the Son of this Great Nation, died, my heart skipped a beat. Then, in prayer I rejoiced in celebration in knowing that President Bush’s spirit had been led back to You and into the heavenly arms of his bride, Barbara, and their daughter, Robin.

Thank You for ensouling President Bush with such a spirit that thousands of Your children, like me, have been touched with acts of love and kindness which flowed from You to us through his priceless legacy of service to Your creation. While his spirit rests with You forever in Heaven, we treasure innumerable memories of meaning and worth on Earth because of him.

I thank You for the one such memory when I served as Chair of Houston’s Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities. I was blessed to Host the Committee’s Annual Awards Luncheon. As the keynote speaker, President Bush sat next to me.

The President had selected this occasion to present to Senator Tom Harkin the Bush Medal in recognition of the Senator’s authorship and shepherding through Congress the ADA, The Americans with Disabilities Act.

Seated next to the President for an hour that day, he treated me with the same respect and worth as a head of state, a friend, or a member of his family.

During lunch, the President asked, “Jack, may I squeeze the lemon in your tea?” I paused and asked to myself, should I show my independence or graciously accept the President’s offer? I replied, Mr. President, “Yes, I would be honored if you squeezed the lemon in my tea.” At that moment I wondered just how many people in the world ever had the chance to receive such a simple act of kindness from a great American hero.

God, thank You for such a great man, leader, peacemaker, hero, family man, patriot above partisan, and example for all of us to follow. He never boasted or bragged. His actions spoke for themselves of his greatness and of the remarkable gifts You placed in the deep well of his person hood at birth.

By the President choosing You to follow all the days of his life and in his devotion to Barbara, the love of his life, he and we are redeemed in Holy Hope that true love never dies.

President Bush, thanks for sharing lunch with me on that glorious day. I look forward to breaking bread with you again at the Lord’s Table when God calls me Home.

Oh, and thanks again, President Bush, for squeezing the lemon in my tea. Amen

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Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.

Prayer to See and Be God’s Light and Love – November 25, 2018

November 26, 2018 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

God – Scripture proclaims that You made me and all Your children in Your Divine image. Yet, as an earthly being, I too often find myself being less a vessel filled with Your Spirit and more a body full of meeting my wants and not the needs of others. I frequently struggle with accepting those who are different than me or who do not share my values and opinions. I am often too quick to judge, too slow to forgive or unable or unwilling to see beyond the imperfections of others.

Lord, please help me to not be “me” but to be a creature of Your Divine Spirit and to see others as You. In Your love for all creation, please help me see You in others so that they may see more of You in me.

If I was made in Your image, please help me, as Your servant, reflect Your light and love in my faithful service to You.

If I and all of Your children did this, then the unloved, the unlovable, and the not so easy to love would be loved. The differences, diversity, and imperfections in me and others would be reconciled in the wholeness and unity of Your Holy Spirit, now and forever to the glory of Your Holy name.

Yes, Lord, please help me see and be Your light and love in who and whose I am. Amen

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Prayer in Thanksgiving for Polishing Mom’s Silver – November 17, 2018

November 18, 2018 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

God, in my youth, before every Thanksgiving, my mother forced me and my siblings to polish her silver. The spoons, knives, forks and serving pieces were dull and needed to be polished for the family table. At the time I resented being separated from watching TV, listening to the radio or playing card games.

As Mom pulled the silverware from the cedar chest and cooked in the kitchen, I sat for what seemed like hours doing this chore. Now, years later, I realize that my mother was teaching me a deeper lesson than just doing a job. Looking back, Mom was teaching me about being thankful for the possessions we had, taking pride in our work, and joy in seeing a dining room table set with clean china, sparkling crystal and shining silver. Living the artful life and creating beauty for others to see. How even the simple mundane things we do over time have the greatest impact in life. Mom taught me that life is a lot like that. Little actions produce big results. Small things matter – more than we know.

As I approach another Thanksgiving, I thank you God for the lessons I learned from polishing Mom’s silver. After her death, in the wake of sorting out Mom’s possessions, and in the aftermath of untrustworthy hired caregivers, I have no idea where her silver is or the cedar chest she stored it in. But, the lessons I learned from polishing her silver are everlasting. The blessings of polishing Mom’s silver will be seated at our family Thanksgiving table next week and at every other holiday dinner to come.

God, for those of us who do not have silver in need of polishing, please help us to do our part in creating beauty and special memories at our holiday tables. There are napkins to fold. Silverware to set in place. Tablecloths to lay. Vases to fill with flowers. Hands to hold. Loved ones to embrace. The giving of thanks to You for the harvest of hope as we break bread together. Amen

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Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.

Jack Emmott is a Child of God – an Interview with Dr. Stem Mahlatini

November 15, 2018 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

DrStem “Life Plus”, is all about Motivation, Inspiration, Education, Empowerment and Encouragement. DrStem is on a mission to inspire, and empower teenagers and adults alike to feel the fear and go after their passions and dreams anyway. Her work is designed to bring HOPE, boosting confidence to speak and live fearlessly out loud.

Follow Dr. Stem at https://americaoutloud.com/drstem/ and on Facebook.

Click here to enjoy the beautiful interview between DrStem and Jack. 57 minutes.

Prayer for Civility – October 21, 2018

October 21, 2018 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

God – The angelic Mother You sent me had many words of wisdom to live and love by. One of the simple yet profound ones was, “Jack, if you cannot say something nice about someone else, please say nothing at all.”

My Mother is in Heaven, but her words live on in my heart on Earth.

As a divorce attorney I learn of parents who speak to their spouses and their children in angry tones and hateful demeaning words. God, one of Your ministers, Wes Seeliger, said such words of incivility hurt forever and are hard to forget or forgive. Over time Wes said they become “tapeworms of the soul.”

Tapeworms of the soul deprive the spirit of the nutrient it needs to thrive and live. That nutrient is love.

Lord, today and every day, please help us speak with dignity and respect to our spouses and our children, family members, and all others we come into contact with in our personal, business, social, political, and international relationships. For when we do that, others will see You in us and we will shine Your light of civility and love on others in our service to You. Amen

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Prayer in Thanksgiving for Music – October 14, 2018

October 14, 2018 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

The Minutemen. Photo by Legendary Drummer
Buzzy Gruen.

God – I met You first in my mother’s warm embrace and in her song.

As a young boy I sat next to Mom in the church pew on Sunday mornings.

Adorned in a hat, a veil over her lovely face and white gloves on her hands which held the hymnal, I listened to her sing like an angel.

After polio, my infirm body felt firmly part of God’s family as I sang in the Cherub Choir. I had felt so different and alone. Yet, as I precariously stood beside the other choir members, I knew God loved me. I was part of something far greater and more powerful than polio could ever be.

In the awkward years in high school of wanting to fit in while feeling out and of having pimples and scoliosis that made me feel like a leper, I played the keyboard in a local band, The Minutemen.

In our tri-cornered hats and in black attire as I played beside Bob Vaden, Mike McGauhey, and Steve Glover on their Fender electric guitars and Buzzy Gruen on his Ludwig drums, I received and re-experienced the joy of being in church with my mother, and in the Cherub Choir.

God, today and every day may we thank You for the gift to us of music, of voice, and of song.

In the melody and rhythm of song, of string, and wind may we hear the voices of angels.

May we hear the beat of Your ever present heart.

May we feel the pulse of Your never-ending love for us.

May the joyful noise we make together in Your Name rise above the deafening sounds of ordinary days.

May we follow the voices of Your angels who lead us nearer and nearer to You. Amen

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Prayer for Recognition of Others – October 7, 2018

October 8, 2018 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

At 14 when I graduated from Dean Junior High, I felt like a fish out of water.

At the Graduation Ceremony I sat in a wheelchair with my head in a sling. One of the steel rods in my back had broken and surgery loomed a few days later.

As awards were given to my fellow classmates for outstanding grades, Most Popular Boy and Girl and Most Likely to Succeed, I was not aware of anything about me that was worthy of praise or recognition.

Suddenly, a teacher wheeled me on stage and presented me with an unexpected award— The Most Optimistic Student Award.

I’ve always known that this Award had no historical precedent. It was given to me by teachers and the Principal in recognition that I always had smile on my face despite my obvious disabilities and struggles.

The fact that others gave me that recognition helped me recognize the gift God gave me in a smile and a positive attitude in all things.

Lord, even though our imperfections are many, every one of Your children has some quality, gift, or talent worthy of recognition and praise. Please help us to look beyond the superficial and the obvious and find something worthy of recognition and praise in others. For in the recognition of Your gifts in them, we glorify You and show You thanks for our creation. Amen

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Prayer to Let Go of Outcomes – September 30, 2018

September 30, 2018 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

God – In our prayers to You we ask for what we need or want from You. We ask You for the outcomes we want. We do so without considering the outcomes You want for us.

After polio and during my rehabilitation from paralysis, in daily prayer I asked You, my Lord, to cure me, to grant me the miracle I wanted.

As I petitioned You to be cured, I also asked You to strengthen my trust in You to accept the outcome You wanted for me.

In the end, because of Your love and plans for me, I was healed instead of cured.

I have come to believe that You thought that I could be a better servant to others and You while I was seated in a chair with four wheels and not standing on two strong legs. The plans the polio virus intended for me were uprooted by Your Divine Will for me.

Lord, as we all pray for the outcomes we want, please help us let go of the ultimate outcomes. Rather, let us trust that Your Will for us will be done on Earth and in Heaven.

Lord, let Thy will for each of us be done, now and forever. Amen

This prayer was inspired by today’s sermon by Stuart Bates, Rector, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Houston. Stuart, thanks to you for your inspiration and that of all ministers of all denominations to focus our hearts on what great plans the Father has for all His children.

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Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.