 Title: My Favorite Prayer
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble." (Psalm 46.1)
When we pray, we talk to God- when we meditate, we listen ... Seek the Question ~ Question the Answer ~ Answer the Quest
The basic requirements of true spiritual progress are Purity in thought,
purity in action, universal love, deep devotion to Spirit and treating
one and all without distinction of caste, creed or sex, humility and
sincerity.
This past year has been one heavy in prayer for me.
Most of it in silence. A year is a long time to be gone (I think to
myself) and going through 'hell' with what seems to be constant health
complications, 4 teenagers (*smile*) and bills that are not getting
paid, ect..
But then my life stopped, and spoke with me for
one moment this month.
Ironically and sadly, just last week, my
stepdaughter's mother passed away of lung and throat cancer from smoking
-- after a year long health battle that started at the same time as mine.
She ultimately 'went home' on January 9th 2006. She was 39. Younger than
I. It was on this day that I realized that I indeed made 'true
spiritual progress'.
It made me think of my favorite prayer.
Life really IS short - Now, I think to myself. "I sure am glad that I'm
still here." Even if it means i have to be to be sick sometimes (or some
long times) or worry about my teens when they come home past curfew, or
fret about the bill collectors phone calls at 10 am on a Sunday morning
during breakfast, or disappointing my clients online. The bills don't look so bad now to me. Neither does
living with Lupus. Because so far and at least I am doing just that
--LIVING with Lupus. I learned that many of my clients are very
patient, compassionate
and understanding people. Still, though, I will continue worry about my teens ;)
And our (Rick's) 13 year old daughter, is now without
her mother.
Those are shoes impossible to fill. What road ahead this
will be. Truly heartbreaking to me. I cannot imagine ( although I have
tried) leaving my kids behind,
anywhere, or, knowing how it feels to know that you will not see
them again in this lifetime ... and still muster the ability to remain sane and dignified in a
hospice with your daughter by your side, until the end. There are no
words for describing more than that.
I want to honor and address some very special people
in my life that are also clients and friends of mine, who experienced
the pain off earthly loss is this past year.
Robin, you know the feeling of losing a child
and I have prayed for your healing every day that I have been away. I am
in awe of your acceptance and admire your strength -- and hope to
connect with you soon to help your process.
Mary, I've learned that you've lost your
soulmate (Joe) right before the Christmas, holiday. You remain in my
prayers since I've just learned of your loss. If you need me, email asap
so I can help you maintain and go onward.
Lisa Green, many of you knew as my assistant
and "right hand woman", was just recently lost to us in a
horrific auto accident, leaving behind (just here on earth!) her twin 5
year old girls. She also left me a kidney that matched.
Lets keep them all in our prayers this year. I love
them all.
... so from here .. I will thank God and Spirit that
I still exist here -- with my husband and children .. and continue where I
left off about a prayer.
The Right Way To Pray? There is no one right way to pray about a situation - what works well for one person may not for another. The following thoughts are offered as guidelines which may be useful. When we pray we come before God with the world on our hearts. We are also offering ourselves to be in some small way channels of love and peace in God's world. God already knows what is in our hearts and minds.
We can be honest with God, and say exactly how we feel, or even just sit
in silence. It might help to find a quiet space. You may want to be on
your own, but you may also find that it helps to join other people, who
may be gathering to pray in local churches, but also in schools,
workplaces and elsewhere. You may find that you can say just what you
want to, using your own words. My Favorite Prayer Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is discord, vision. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Lord, guide me along another person's path of grief or sorrow. Allow me to walk humbly by their side. Teach me to listen not only with my ears, but also with my heart Teach me to speak not only with words, but also in silence. Guide my actions and words that no further pain will be inflicted. Look down upon me, good and gentle Spirits, while before you I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech you to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity. You have appointed from the treasures of your wisdom the hierarchies of angels, disposing them in wondrous order above the bright heavens, and have so beautifully set out all parts of the universe. You we call the true fount of wisdom and the noble origin of all things. Be pleased to shed on the darkness of mind in which I was born, The twofold beam of your light and warmth to dispel my ignorance You make eloquent the tongues of children. Then instruct my speech and touch my lips with graciousness. Make me keen to understand, quick to learn, able to remember; Make me delicate to interpret and ready to speak. Guide my going in and going forward, Lead home my going forth. You are true Spirit Until the end of my journey here, give me the strength to cross back over into my life's path until we journey again. May God's hand hold yours, may His voice whisper in your ear, and may His grace and beauty surround you forever. May the will of God be that you are healed, and may your healing be a blessing to all that pray and have faith. May it be a sign to those who do not have faith and do not understand.
May my prayers reach out to you and yours, and increase your and their
faith. May the faith of those praying and of your families be increased
to that of a coconut, for if faith the size of a mustard seed, the
smallest of all seeds, can move a mountain, imagine what faith the size
of the largest seed can do. My love and God's blessing to you. Lilly 100% All Natural REAL Mood Management
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