Power of Prayer

I won't go into the messy details of why, but the last few days I've found myself praying a lot more than normal. Of course I pray every night with my boys before they go to bed, we always make sure to pray before meals, but over the last few days I've been turning to God more often, praying for guidance. Praying for understanding, both for me and others, and praying for strength.

Today was different. After I took my youngest two to visit with Grandma so I could work, rather than going straight home, I took a detour. I went to our Church. I needed to refill my holy water, but I also knew I wanted to pray. Maybe along with the holy water, I also realized I needed to refill my spirit.

As I entered the Church, something told me that the appropriate prayer for my situation would be the prayer of St. Francis. Having been brought up in the Catholic Church and being a singer, it's a hymn I know by heart. I filled my holy water, made the sign of the cross and knelt in the pew. I began to pray.

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love,
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul!

Make me a channel of your peace:
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 "To be understood as to understand" and "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned" really struck a chord with me.  And yes, I cried. But I felt better.

I tweeted that I had just been to Church and said the Prayer of St. Francis. A former co-worker responded, "Thanks for sharing that. I just looked it up online and said it at my desk. Great to stay grounded throughout the day."

It was nice knowing that my tweet helped someone. So I shared the prayer on my facebook wall when I got home. I thought I would share it on the blog too. If it helped one person by tweeting it, maybe others would be helped by the blog.

It's about helping others.

I hope the power of prayer helps everyone.