Sunday, October 16, 2011

Why People Pray

Why do people pray? 

The reasons are many.

There is the strength and endurance that comes from the rock solid belief that prayer works.

But there is also the way prayer makes us, the ones praying, feel.  Like we are doing something -- when we are blessed as being present in someone else's life, and find ourselves with nothing else to offer.

There are times that prayer is requested, sometimes begged, of us. We do it to honor that person and to lighten their load in any way that we can, when we are humbly asked to participate in their life. What greater honor is there than to be called in as a part of someone's life, in such a trusting and intimate way, with the strong conviction from them that we can help.

Prayer changes those that do it, and those that request it. Prayer makes us a participant in another being's walk on this planet, prayer changes our heart toward those we pray for, prayer puts us shoulder to shoulder, step to step, with someone on this part of their journey they've now entered.

Prayer offers solace, helping the one reaching out asking it of us to be able to close their eyes and feel what it's like knowing many, many  hearts are praying along with them.

We are united, we whisper their names and lift up their burden, distributing the weight of this moment in their life among all of us, the ones giving words to their pain. 

I am requesting prayers from you today.

There are many things I keep private. But this one is too heavy for me and my family to raise up in our own hearts alone.

My nephew, my sister's son, is going to begin his chemotherapy for a cancer that has returned.

We beat it with a course of treatments 3 years ago, and we believe we can beat it again.

We stand an even better chance of the same successful outcome this time: I've assured my sister of this.

I told her I was calling in the biggest army I've ever had.

And that's where all of you come in.

Thank you.
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108 comments:

  1. Definitely praying. He will beat it again. ((HUGS))

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  2. Is sending love and warm thoughts close enough to praying? That, I know how to do. XO

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  3. Prayer is a powerful thing. Much stronger than cancer. Praying your nephew kicks its butt hard this time!

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  4. I'm praying!!! And putting out the call to others.

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  5. got you covered....will wear out the knees in my jeans if i need to...

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  6. I am a huge believer in the power of prayer. My uncle and cousin both beat stage-four cancer (each suffered repeated relapses, but have been cancer-free for at least 15 years). I sincerely believe that their health today is in no small part due to the prayers and positive thoughts we sent their way. I'm sorry to hear that your nephew is about to start this journey again, but I know he will do well! I'll spread the word to my family; they're an excellent (and large) prayer chain.

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  7. Count me in! Thoughts and prayers, coming your way.

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  8. Love, light, prayers going your way and to your nephew. xo

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  9. I have already been through boot camp on this one. Count me in. Ready for the vigil.

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  10. Praying for the best for your nephew.

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  11. I have no religion to speak of, but I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. Absolutely.

    Love to you and yours.

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  12. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7

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  13. I wish your nephew positive thoughts so he can help beat the cancer with us.

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  14. Just prayed and hope for healing and strength.

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  15. You got it, love. The strongest I've got. xo

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  16. I'll be adding your nephew to my prayers. You're right, we are quite an army! You've got all of our prayers.

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  17. Oh my goodness...You and he and your whole family are in my prayers tonight!!! *hugs(

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  18. I am praying so hard for your nephew and your entire family, right now.

    Sending you much love.

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  19. Lots of prayers for your nephew and his family. Prayers for healing and strength. Prayers for his medical team to make good, educated decisions that will give him and his family the support, care and treatments that he (and his family) needs. Lots of prayers for God to send his healing hands down on his sweet little body for a complete recovery.

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  20. Prayers for healing in body and spirit for you nephew, your sister, and your family.

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  21. praying and sending hugs. And love, lots of love. xo

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  22. praying, thank you for sharing this and letting us bear this burden with you, sending endurance, strength, comfort,clarity and wisdom for the doctors and his parents in their decision making, and so much love coming your way.

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  23. Prayers are coming your way for your nephew, sister and entire family! xoxo

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  24. I'm not really the praying type, but I'll give it my best shot for your nephew.

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  25. A double blind study done at a well renowned hospital proved that those patients who were prayed for recovered more quickly and with less pain. Here's sending some prayer therapy his way.
    Dana

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  26. Oh, I"m so sorry. Your family must be hurting terribly.

    You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

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  27. My heart goes out to your family. I will keep you in my prayers.

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  28. Keeping you, your family, and your nephew in my heart.

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  29. I'm so sorry you're all having to face this again. I will pray for you, that the wisdom of God guides the doctors, that his peace will comfort you and your family, and that he will keep you all wrapped in his arms. Much love.

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  30. Your nephew and your family have my deep hopes and wishes for health and peace in this difficult time. I'm sending all the good thoughts and positivity I can into the world for them and you!

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  31. My nephew fought AML for several years and won. I believe prayer played a big part in his victory.

    Count me in as part of that army, sweet lady. Prayers, hugs, and hope to your family. <3

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  32. Sending positive thoughts and energy your way to help not only your nephew but your whole family.

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  33. thoughts and prayers from us. Big ones! xo

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  34. This is Alexandra's sister, I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

    He starts Wednesday at 9:30 am.

    the comments here...there are HUNDREDS of people praying for him right now!!! Praise the Lord!

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  36. "God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you might be able to endure it." Love, hugs, and prayers going out for your nephew, for your sister and her family, for you, and for all families battling cancer. May God be with you through your ordeal and hold this child safe in the palm of His hand.

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  37. My positive thoughts and love being sent out into the universe for your nephew, and your entire family.

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  38. So sorry - this must be so tough. Sending all the love and positive thoughts I've got. (And maybe a wee bit extra.)

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  39. Absolutely! Consider it not only done but ongoing!

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  40. beautiful. love you!

    candace

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  41. Empress, you know you can count on me. (Could you tell me his name, even by e-mail)?

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  42. Oh no. Every time I read a story like this, even if I don't know the poor soul who is suffering, my stomach drops. I will be thinking of your nephew, and your sister, because that hits me right in the mother spot.

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  43. Oh A, my heart is heavy reading this.

    Of course I will send up some prayers for this little soul.

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  44. Done. Best wishes to you and your family.

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  45. Prayers are being sent to your whole family; your nephew will be in my thoughts.

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  46. Done and done and more done and done some more and oh how many prayers I will send your way.

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  47. Oh, A, I'm so sorry. When a child is sick, it just cuts me to the core.
    Big hugs and prayers,
    Chalupa

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  48. This is Alexandra's sister, again: Seeing how many people are praying… I am so thankful!!!

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  49. What a beautiful post. Of course I will pray for your nephew - for your entire family, my friend.

    Love and hugs to you all

    ~ Anna

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  50. My family will be praying for your nephew. Thank you for sharing this - I hope your sister finds comfort knowing we are holding her son in our hearts!

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  51. Absolutely! You have your army who will be here to help in anyway that we can.

    You and your family are in my thoughts & prayers.

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  52. I've never read your blog before, but I saw this on Twitter, and I am praying (and retweeting).

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  53. I've never thought of prayer in quite that way. Beautiful!

    And my prayers will join with all the others to make this a successful treatment for your nephew. And to provide strength for his family.

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  54. My thoughts and prayers are with him and your sister. I know he can beat it again!

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  55. Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. I'm sending every good, healing thought I can out there for you and yours. We're all here with you.

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  56. Thoughts, love, and prayers to you and your family. xo

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  57. I'm so, so sorry. Sending thoughts and prayers to your family during this time. And hugs too, lots of hugs.

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  58. Oh honey. I'm a proud prayer warrior. Count me in.

    Love, A

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  59. Sending healing thoughts and many prayers.

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  60. Oh, so heartbreaking, but prayer is insanely powerful. You can count me as a member of this prayer army.

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  61. My husband, my daugher, myself....we will pray. We will pray because we DO believe that a community of people who want the best for the ill is so powerful and works wonders.

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  62. Oh.

    You all leave me speechless.

    When I think I"m prepared for how good you all are, I'm proven over and over how incredibly astonishing you can be.

    Thank you.

    I wish you could feel how much I mean by Thank you.

    Thank you.

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  63. I had never thought of prayer on this way before.

    Oh how beautiful and infinite is such faith.

    And love like this will not go unanswered.

    Of this I am sure.

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  64. ---I am lifting a prayer this very minute....xxx

    I believe in the POWER of prayer.

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  65. You and yours are in my prayers. I will pray for healing, peace and strength.....

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  66. I'm in. Praying for your nephew and your family. Praying hard.

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  67. Absolutely. Positive vibes, good thoughts, and prayers coming your way and to your nephew. (((((HUGS)))))

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  68. I am praying! Praying he can beat this and praying for strength for all of you as his family as you stand by him through this.

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  69. Thank you for putting it out there as a request. I prayed my little heart out just now. No one should ever have to see their child suffer. I prayed for strength for the family and for God to be by their side for another successful fight!

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  70. Much love to you and yours, sweet friend. So much. XO

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  71. Ask and ye shall receive. Stay strong for your sister and your nephew. You can lean on us any time.

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  72. I will pray. We lessen our neighbors' burden when we ask they be helped. I agree it is the gift of prayer. Your family is in my thoughts.

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  73. I am praying for wisdom for the doctors, healing for him, and peace for the family.

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  74. You're calling in a HUGE army! Prayers for him!

    I believe in the power of social media!

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  75. Prayers a'plenty headed your way, friend.

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  76. Thank you to all of you: the peace I have, in knowing that all of you are with me right now, is such a gift.

    Thank you.

    My sister has no words for the kind of hearts you all have.

    Thank you.

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  77. You certainly have an army and the prayers will be indomitable! My heart is with your sister and nephew. Will send love and prayers that they and you make it through with minimal pain and abundant hope! ~Hugs~

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  78. I'm joining the army a few days late, but these battles aren't won overnight. Prayers for healing, for health, for strength, and for guidance for the medical team and decisions that need to be made. For your nephew and for your whole family.

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  79. Praying.

    I used to feel so uncomfortable with that word. Then I learned about energy--how we all share it, scientifically it's proven.

    Then I understood prayer as directing, focusing energy, and I believe in it.

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  80. I'm also late to the battle, but willingly join it for you, your sister, and her sweet boy. Words like 'cancer' and 'children' should NEVER go together and it breaks my heart when they do. He will beat this again. I have faith.

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  81. Exactly. "Cancer" and "child" should never, ever meet. My 1st son was born & weighed 1lb, 10oz; was in the NICU for months; the docs predicted all kinds of dire outcomes. People who were friends of friends of friends of family emailed and wrote to say they were praying for us; we were the subject of prayer circles and all kinds of stuff. We're not religious people; we don't do sustained god-related prayer. But you know? My kid survived, thrived, has not one ill effect. And from that point on...I think prayer or whatever you want to call it? that sustained energy focused in good directions? works. So I'm sending all the prayers we got 11 years ago in your direction, and adding more of my own.

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  82. Oh honey. I am praying. You know I am.

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  83. Sending warm thoughts, prayers, and a virtual apple pie. <3

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  84. OF COURSE you're going to beat this again! I'm praying for you Mr. Nephew and will keep you in my thoughts. Your road ahead as you know isn't going to be easy, but you are not alone, in fact your loved a million times over. Best wishes.

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  85. Popped out of my shell long enough to let you know I'm adding my prayers for healing and strength for your nephew and family.
    Let's kick some cancer butt!

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  86. Late thoughts, but thoughts nonetheless count, no? Sending the most positive energy and spirit rejuvenation I can muster. KNOCK THAT CANCER ON ITS ASS!

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  87. Alexandra - I'm so sorry I didn't see this sooner, I was wrapped up in mundane busyness that seems so trivial now. I will be putting in double-time efforts to pick up my slack. Loving energy is the strongest there is...sending a boatload your way...
    xoxoxoxo

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  88. Oh my goodness, Alexandra. Prayers, thoughts, hand-holding from afar. You were right to not keep this private. You're a great aunt.

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  89. I am sending all the white light I can muster. I will be thinking about him and the rest of your family.

    smooches

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  90. Sending so many prayers for him. For all of you guys. Be strong and be positive.

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  91. I will prayer and hold you up, I will pray until he is better, well, healthy and whole. I will pray until you are comforted and cared for. I will pray until this bad thing is over. Much much much love to you. Xoxox

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  92. So very happy to be a part of your army and send prayers to your nephew. Hope, light and love.

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  93. Hold strong and hug your people.

    Thinking of him.

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  94. Thoughts, prayers, vibes, whatever you call it...all positive for you, your nephew and the rest of the family. Be strong for them and let our energy carry you through.

    Peace now.

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