"Let my prayer rise before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice"
As I come to this day's post, several things are in my mind: an encounter with a woman at the clinic yesterday while I was getting an IV; an encounter with an old friend at the vet's office while I was getting pet stuff; and something someone had written on another blog a while ago regarding prayer lists and concerns.
The woman at the clinic humbled and graced me with her wisdom as she shared her story while receiving chemo. I listened, and then silently put her mentally on my prayer list that the chemo would shrink the cancer.
My friend at the vet's office filled me in on her 3 year old son's condition, which they had only diagnosed in the last month or so, and for which he is now receiving therapy. She explained that this therapist was an answer to prayer as her boy was finally coming out of his shell and being a 3 year old boy. Her husband had called to explain that earlier that afternoon while she was at work their boy poured Hershey's syrup on the hardwood floor, then proceeded to "lap" it up like one of the dogs. She told me the story with a combination of laughter and tears, as she was thrilled her boy was doing imagination play, and was sad that it took this long for her boy to be able to play, and hear stories, and talk as he should. (she wasn't upset about the chocolate at all-- "wipe it up" and give that boy a hug!")
Finally, the blogger I mentioned shared frustration at what seemed the absurdity of some of the prayer requests he'd been receiving-- like, my neighbor's uncle's toe infection, and the like. I understood what the person was saying in the blog, but also pondered what they said. My conclusion was that this person may have never had to experience long term illness for themselves, or in someone they loved, or they were having a really, really rotten day. In all fairness, I could see myself writing something like that before I started this chronic illness journey three years ago.
Since then, my approach to prayer has been changed drastically-- it is much more earthy, and all across the board when I pray in an intercessory way (for other's needs). There have been times in my life over the past three years that I simply had no clue how to pray for myself or for what a loved one was facing. Things are not neat and tidy when you come to PTSD, or Depression, or Chronic Fatigue, or MS, or Lung Cancer, or POTS, or Arthritis, or really any other long-term health issue...and that doesn't even touch the undiagnosed illnesses that people wrestle with.
Chronic illness is messy, and sometimes the best prayer...perhaps the only prayer I have is to pray for a specific part that they need at that time, and entrust the rest of the big picture to God. It all seems so interwoven, you know? Perhaps my neighbor's uncle's big toe is a result of Diabetes, and while he wrestles with that part, he also has concern over many other things.
Some days, I need prayers for energy, other days for reduced pain, and others days that I won't lose hope in the face of it all- (and then there's the prayers that I may not be a total wench to my husband and family because I don't feel well!) So when I pray for someone else, I guess I just jump in and start wherever I know there's a need--also realizing that I may only know a small part of all that they face, but, trusting that God listens, and that the act of praying, in and of itself, changes me and enriches that relationship with God and with the person I pray for.
I would personally love to hear your comments on how you approach prayer for others, and what prayers you need on any given day. I would be honored to pray for you...however I can.
So here's our Saturday prayer list I would like to start:
Pray for anyone that reads this blog....
Pray for anyone who comes to your mind who is facing illness or difficult times...
Pray for everyone who is a health partner to someone with illness....
Pray for all those who are in need of hope....
please add on those concerns you wish to add.
peace,
Andrea
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