"I'll Pray For You." – The Prayer List

I am sure I am like many others.  I learn that people are struggling with a hardship, learning of  serious illnesses regarding themselves or loved ones, have family members over seas putting their life on the line to fight for our country, leaving their families behind missing them something awful, and praying for their safe return. People with broken hearts, broken homes, broken dreams.

My heart is often breaking for them….with them.  I want so desperately to fix it all for them….. to tell them it will be o.k.  I feel small and helpless, in the face of their pain.  So I give them the most powerful help I can possibly give them:  HOPE.  I tell them I will pray for them. And I mean it, in all sincerity.

Before I sleep at night, as I bow my head before my Lord on the cross in my church, as I drive (yeah…maybe not a good time)…or random moments throughout my day, I mentally review my list, and pray.  I’ve mentioned many times before, that when I am too overwhelmed to find sufficient words in prayer, I visualize.  In my mind, I think of every single person and family who have asked us to pray for them, every one who I have verbally offered to pray for, and those whom I just know could use some.  To pray for them brings me some sense of peace, for I know He hears me, and knows of their needs.  He can do all things, beyond our comprehension.

But there is always a little nagging worry:   Who did I forget?  Who did I promise to pray for, and am letting down right now?  So I add…”And all of those who we have committed our hearts to praying for in one way or another. You know who they are. You alone know their true needs.  May their heart hear Your call too….may they also turn to You in their greatest hour of need, and realize the power of Your love.”    O.k…sometimes not even all of those words  come to me.  But you get the idea.

Still, our family as a whole….my kids and husband know of all these people too.  They pray for them too.  Some are part of our family, some are loved ones of our extended family, some they have merely heard of through one of us.  So I had an idea I knew Michael could make. (Because he can make anything, as we have all realized by now. : )   I thought it would be great to have a real, physical Prayer List to refer to on our own, or in moments when we are around our family table in collective prayer.  One we can add names to as needed, and remove in light of answered prayers.  One that will ‘help’ ME at least, NOT forget anyone!

Our children are almost as helpful as our List.  They forget no one we need to be praying for.  Especially other children who are very ill.  They will ask over and over, by name,  how so-and-so  is doing, and lots of other questions as well.  They will randomly make pictures, paintings and cards that they want mailed out to those children or people.   To me, that artwork, created by the hands and from the heart of a child, is one of the most beautiful kinds of prayers.  I believe He truly hears them too.  But for convenience sake, and for my own poor and worrisome memory, we have The List.

I loved it so much, I couldn’t wait to hang it up.  Even though my intention was to paint the trim white.  Now, I am half contemplating just leaving the wood all natural, like the bucket of fire wood on the floor below it.   Maybe I’ll give it a light stain.  Maybe I’ll change out the rustic look of raffia at Christmas time, and add a red bow.  Or use various colored patterned ribbons as the seasons change.

One thing I know will never change, and  that is the need for a Prayer List.  Like the ribbon that hangs it, the names on the board may change from time to time.  The list may grow longer at times, or God-willing, shorter.

I know I connect and communicate with SO many of you in some form or another.   There are babies on the way we pray for, and others who may need some prayers just that day, who may not be feeling well, or are awaiting certain news, and we just pray for them to help get them though.   But I know I have also told so many of you dealing with longer term struggles and illnesses, that we will pray for you, and we do, consistently. You can count on our prayers, if we offer them, or if you ask us for them.  Because prayer, is the most powerful gift of hope, we can give you.

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*NOTE:  This post was created on November 8, 2010.  In response to all of the interest we have had in our Prayer List Board, we are now taking orders for them.  We have custom filled and shipped out many orders, and take great delight in all of the homes they hang in, and the prayers they are inspiring!  Please see the sidebar of the blog for more information, if you are interested in ordering a custom Prayer List Board of your own, or as a gift.

Since the date of the above blog post, our own Prayer List Board has gotten a beautiful stain, it has been hung by many different beautiful ribbons as we have experienced various seasons and holidays, and my home decor has reflected them.  Many names have been added, and through the grace of God, also erased, in light of answered prayers.   With that said, if YOU are in need of prayers for yourself or your loved ones, for any reason whatsoever, we are always happy to add you to our own Prayer List Board, and say those prayers with you.

(There is an E-MAIL US button link in the side-bar.)  Feel free to pass along to us just a first name, with specifics to pray for, or a more generalized request.  I don’t intentionally intend to blog a photo of just the board again any time soon.  On this day of the post, I just wanted to share with you our new Prayer List board.

But know when we say we will pray for you, you can count on us to do so!

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Edited To Add:  Here below is how we ultimately finished our chalkboard.  We used the Provincial stain, and change the hanging ribbon for holidays and seasons.

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