Reflection authored by Michelle Williams, Parishioner
Prayer is defined in many different ways. It can be so simple and so deep . It is said Prayer can be defining. Prayer is a grace-filled comfort and relationship building with God, Mary, numerous Saints, plus the Angels. Sometimes we over look personal relationships with ourselves, family and friends, but mostly we overlook our personal relationship with God because of a feeling of unworthiness, guilt, or bitterness and that is where Reconciliation comes in and the belief that there is nothing you can do to make God give up on you !!!!
Prayer is universal, Personal and to be shared. A good example of that is a Retreat or CEW. Making prayer a priority is a choice. It is to be prayed in Joy, Sorrow, Despair, Hope, Grief, and Gratitude.
My husband and I were Blessed with 7 children. Which has always offered plenty of opportunity to pray. One of my fondest memories was when I would be putting the seat-belt on our youngest daughter’s car-seat. The seat-belt would get stuck when it was time to pick up the 5 older children from 3 different schools. I would say an Our Father almost daily. By the time our daughter was 3-years-old and had a baby brother, she knew the Our Father and would say it every afternoon on our way to pick-up. I didn’t have the heart to tell her we had a different car and it didn’t stick anymore, plus I loved hearing her say it. We had built a faith relationship over a seat-belt.
Every time I hear a siren Police, Fire, or Ambulance, I always say a Hail Mary for the First Responders and the people they are responding to. I hope all my children also say it for they grew up saying it .
I worked at On With Life for 13 years, I saw families be devastated for their loved ones. I started carrying the little metal finger Rosaries and would give them one saying, “Hold this tight and know prayers are being said for you and your loved one. I would say 90% knew nothing about a Rosary or how to say one but that didn’t matter - for they would be praying holding it. I am sure you have no idea how many times a day you say a little prayer. Try to keep track one day and see how many prayers you say. It will either be reassuring or a wake-up call. I even say a prayer for the person pulled over by the police - that the ticket doesn’t cost too much, that it doesn’t raise their insurance, or that it doesn’t put a burden on the family. Those little prayers lead us to think of others and is making more time to pray, Your prayer life just becomes a priority . Giving you grace, a closeness to God and peace.
The benefits of prayer are so many. Such as Peace of Mind, Miracles, and not feeling like you are going through things alone. Prayer can end the feeling of helplessness, when there is nothing you can do - you can pray. Prayer can give you Grace, confidence, reassurance, and a closeness to God that ends in friendship. My daughter called today because she could not find a Christmas present she had had made. It is a painted picture of the house her dad grew up in and all our children visited often. I said “Say a prayer to St. Anthony” and she went on to another topic. The next thing I hear is “Mom, I found it and didn’t even have time to say the prayer yet” I answered “I did” !!!
Novenas are usually short and a wonderful way to pray. Finding the Saints in my everyday life has brought so much more to my prayer life . PrayMoreNovenas.com is one of my favorite ones. Bring awareness to what is needed in the world and in our own lives. 3 minute Retreats or Meditations are also easy ways to find time to pray.
Pray with confidence . Pray from your heart. I worked two jobs while our four oldest were in College and the younger ones were in middle school and High School. I worked in the School District from 7:15 to 3:15 ran and got the youngest ones to what activity they needed to be at and the others home, put dinner in the oven, and left for On With Life. Starting my Rosary on the way there and finishing it at 8:30 on my way home. Do you think I could have found those two jobs that fit so well and always gave me time off to attend everything for school without prayer and an amazing husband, which God put in my life? I don’t! Praying does not just happen out of need or gratitude, you have to make time to pray or fit it in - It is a habit that brings so much joy, peace, relationships and love to your life and would not leave much time for bad habits! It is an example that leaves an impression on you, your children, spouse, significant other, family and community. Prayer takes us out of ourselves to a greater good.
It is not easy fitting in the Advent Wreath every night in December or to do a Lenten obligation as a family or with friends, but it is a special gift you give them. Prayer is a gift you give to yourself and to God. Every morning before I get out of bed I say 3 things I am grateful for and every night before I fall asleep I say 3 different thing I am grateful for. Three for the Trinity! Gratitude is a big part of praying, a big part of our attitude, a big part of how we live our life and even how we treat people.
Tonight before I go to sleep I will be grateful for prayer.