My babies,
We come to your favourite implement, P for Pencil. The walls of our modest home bear ample testimony to your handiwork, El Niño. As for you, La Niña, I recall with fondness how, as a four-year-old, you used to scribble on a sheet of paper with a pencil. You would read your squiggles out loud, "Mamma, I love you. What you cook is the best. Please make banana milkshake and red soupie for me. "
That pencilled writing of yours, part paean of praise, part petition, reminds me of a very valuable P, Prayer.
If there is any one teaching I would most like to share with you, it would be my faith in God and my unshakeable belief that no prayer goes unanswered. The answer may not always be a Yes. Sometimes it might be a No, a Maybe, or even a Not Right Now. And very often there might be long silences that appear most harsh to your unhappy ears.
When you begin to pray, it might seem that you are asking for impossibles and miracles. But don't let that deter you. Ask, freely and without hesitation, the way you used to ask me to make your favourite soupie. Ask not merely for yourself, but for those you love. Occasionally surprise yourself by asking on behalf of strangers and people you don't quite like.
 |
| Image Courtesy: Raj Manchekar |
We come to your favourite implement, P for Pencil. The walls of our modest home bear ample testimony to your handiwork, El Niño. As for you, La Niña, I recall with fondness how, as a four-year-old, you used to scribble on a sheet of paper with a pencil. You would read your squiggles out loud, "Mamma, I love you. What you cook is the best. Please make banana milkshake and red soupie for me. "
That pencilled writing of yours, part paean of praise, part petition, reminds me of a very valuable P, Prayer.
If there is any one teaching I would most like to share with you, it would be my faith in God and my unshakeable belief that no prayer goes unanswered. The answer may not always be a Yes. Sometimes it might be a No, a Maybe, or even a Not Right Now. And very often there might be long silences that appear most harsh to your unhappy ears.
When you begin to pray, it might seem that you are asking for impossibles and miracles. But don't let that deter you. Ask, freely and without hesitation, the way you used to ask me to make your favourite soupie. Ask not merely for yourself, but for those you love. Occasionally surprise yourself by asking on behalf of strangers and people you don't quite like.
There is much to be gained by praying. Pray for health, strength, courage, peace of mind, so that you may be fit to do the tasks you have been called upon to do.
Pray not just when you hunger but also when you are full. Pray in silence when your heart is too heavy to speak. Pray in scrawls and squiggles when you are too hurt to pray in full sentences.
When you are done praying, leave your prayer behind and set out to do the chores that need to be done.
And if you are fortunate, you will be chosen to answer another's prayer.
My wish for you is that you may make prayer a way of life. That you may let Thank You be the Amen to every prayer you make.
My prayers are always with you.
We'll meet again tomorrow. Come early. There might be a Q.
I loved this post. It made me cry! What a beautiful reminder of how faithful our God is, and what a gift He has given us in the form of prayer. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYeah a prayer will always carry u along in both good times and bad..
ReplyDeleteOn the lighter side I came across a sentence... Why is it that when we talk to God we are praying and when he talks to us its schizophrenia?
OMG...this is Phenomenal. Cynthia, what are your thoughts on adoption? Do you mind adopting an overgrown girl child? :-P Just checking! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said. :)
ReplyDelete#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
Most often we forget what its is like to be appreciative of all we have and therefore forget to be grateful to God. Guess, a prayer is just that! Faith is the most beautiful thing you can create for your wellbeing & the others around you.
ReplyDeleteNice post!
Simply marvelous! Prayers are so very important. A prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.
ReplyDeleteTrue !
ReplyDeletebhagwaan ke ghar me der hai par andher nai !!
I pray and believe but at times lose it
anyway good one
The answer may not always be a Yes. Sometimes it might be a No, a Maybe, or even a Not Right Now. And very often there might be long silences that appear most harsh to your unhappy ears. - How true and how often do we get angry at God for not listening to us only to realize later that he has given us something far greater and far better than we prayed for !
ReplyDeletePrayer is one of my favourite words and activities. So beautifully explained to your little ones. Live life with Bhakti and Shradha. Fabulous post.
ReplyDeleteA very sweet way of telling your kids about the power of prayer!
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Melody. I am always surprised and grateful that with all the work He has to do, the Creator of the World still has time to listen to our wild mutterings. Welcome to my blog.
ReplyDelete:) I don't know, PhenoMenon, I am always listening to the inner voice. Does that make me excessively schizophrenic?
ReplyDeleteHi Laxmi, Nice question. I never really thought about adopting an overgrown girl child before, but now that you ask me, I am completely open to the idea. I will get a granddaughter as a bonus, won't I?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rainbow Hues. You said it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIf we all remembered to pray, Shilpa, what a change we might bring about in the world. So many people changed for the better.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Afshan. May your prayers be answered.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have had that experience in my own life, Ruchira, when I grumbled about not getting the thing I had prayed for, only to realize much later that I wasn’t praying for the best thing for me after all.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzy. Unfortunately, very few people pray regularly. They see prayer as an activity to be indulged in only when all other resorts have beene exhausted.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Roshni.
ReplyDeleteI also believe in the power of prayer. Nice to meet you through A to Z!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Glad to meet you too, Julie. Prayer is the most effective form of communication with God.
ReplyDeleteP for prayer makes a beautiful post. It indeed is well written and yes, prayers are the strongest form to show our faith and hopes.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ekta. The ability to pray is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteReading your posts are so calming, soothing. Somehow, they take me out of this world into a place where there are shady trees, shrubs showing off the flowers they've borne and birds singing loud and fearless.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Bhavya
Just Another Blog
Thank you, Bhavya, for your words of encouragement.
ReplyDeleteThis is so heartfelt Cynthia...absolutely adore what you write.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cynthia for this powerful prayer post. The comments are also so full of wisdom. Keep the Faith!
ReplyDeleteSusan Scott’s Soul Stuff
I laughed at the Q-teaser! Very cute.
ReplyDeleteI live my life as a prayer, for the omniscient knows everything I think and do, not only the presentation. Thus, it's all a presentation and must be lived in earnest.
John at The Bathroom Monologues
I like how your four-year-old wrote squiggles on paper and then read them! I may not be four, but I sometimes write squiggles on paper -- they're called "The First Draft!" lol
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janu. I feel the same about your spirit of adventure.
ReplyDeletePray in squiggles , pray in half sentences , when words fail ...how beautifully you have said it dear Cynthia and just when your little ones begin to think prayer is all about asking for self ...you very gently tell them to pray for others also ...a lesson in selflessness as also about prayer :)
ReplyDeleteHello, Cynthia! Wishing you and yours many blessings and hoping all your prayers are answered in the way you want them to be. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Children's prayers are the most sincere and heartfelt...One of the best gifts my parents gave me was my faith. ♥
ReplyDeleteI love your writing. I love how you address us each day. You make me feel special with each and every post!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
Connie
A to Z-ing to the end
Peanut Butter and Whine