On The Road to: Dayenu

Written By Prayer Blogger

On The Road to: Dayenu


Do you know what the word Dayenu means? I recently became aware of this Hebrew traditional prayer that is sung as part of the Seder on Passover. It is an expression of gratitude, saying “It would have been enough.”  My awareness came just as I had completed the previous CPC Prayer Blog post about Abundance or Scarcity, ending with a prayer about “enough.” Well, that caused me to pursue this further.

This prayer (Dayenu) is about blessings, being grateful to God for all the gifts that were given to the Jewish people. But a prayer like this is not just for our Jewish friends. Gratitude for our blessings is for all of us. Interestingly, I found this adaptation of Dayenu on PCUSA.org – it is a Presbyterian adaptation:

https://pma.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/worship/pdfs/dayenu--shorter_form.pdf 

Some excerpts:

Most Holy God, maker of heaven and earth, so bountiful is your steadfast love, that just a little of your glory is more than enough. 
If you had just poured out your love in creation, It would have been enough. 
If you had revealed yourself through creation, but not made covenant with us, It would have been enough. 
If you had made covenant with us and not entered into relationship with us, It would have been enough. 
If you had just been in relationship with us and not fussed over us when we strayed, It would have been enough.
. . . 
If you had sent us prophets to speak of your love and not sent us a Savior, Dayenu ( It would have been enough). 
If you had sent us a Savior and not taken humanity unto yourself, It would have been enough. 
If you had taken humanity unto yourself but not given us resurrection victory, It would have been enough. 
If you had conquered the power of sin but not given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, It would have been enough. 
If you had conferred the Holy Spirit but not called us to participate in your work of redeeming and blessing the world. It would have been enough.

What would you personally add to this prayer?  What blessings are you grateful for?  Some thoughts might include:

  • Reflecting on the good things in your life; thanking others

  • Refocusing on the meaningful things in your life; removing the negative things 

  • Prioritizing your relationships and experiences; not just accumulating things

  • Forgiving yourself and others

  • Rethinking your goals and what matters most

  • Giving back

Our Jewish friends interpret this prayer practice as something that helps them feel more personally involved, a mindfulness. Do your prayer practices increase your mindfulness? What if you tried this for 30 days?  Would it change your thinking?  Would it change your actions? What if …?  

Remembering this is a prayer of gratitude to God for blessings, here are some personal examples I would add:
If you had just introduced me to _____ but not granted me understanding to recognize a life-long partner, It would have been enough.
If you had just increased my confidence but not given me the answer, It would have been enough.
If you had just cured my disease but not helped me to deal with the complications, It would have been enough.

Care to share your example(s)?


Grateful for you! Dayenu


PB



Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) welcomes all people into God’s way of life and community.

“Community” means those we know well and those we hope to know, those sitting next to us in a pew, and those we encounter day by day. It’s large and expansivew. It’s small and intimate.

Community Presbyterian Church
32202 Del Obispo
San Juan Capistrano. CA 92675
949-493-1502 
info@sjcpres.org   

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The Road To: Abundance or Scarcity