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The sentence that she wrote as her world fell in around her tugs at my ability to make sense of it all . . . “why me?” And I ask myself the same question, “why her” and “why anyone” for that matter? And I fear that they are questions for which there may not be an answer.
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What I do know is that I’m quite sure the one thing that lifted that “Precious” child up was a woman named Blue – a teacher who never gave up on her, who loved her, who inspired her to keep learning . . . forever, no matter what. It’s my hope that each one of us has someone who can inspire us that way.
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For me, that woman was one whom I never had a chance to meet, “the greatest woman I never knew” you might say. Her name was Helen and, I’ve been told, we shared the gift of Devotion. The stories that I listened to about her made me realize how much I love to learn, taught me to discover something new every day, and inspired me to take countless classes. And (soon) that inspiration will be with me when I return to school.
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But the most precious gift that she gave me? She taught me to pray. Before I found out that she was sick, I regarded praying for someone much like thinking of them or hoping that they would get better. Afterwards, and for the first time in my life, I needed to believe that my prayers could do more than “think of” or “hope for” someone. I wanted them to be heard and answered. And so that is how, this woman who existed to me only in stories, is the reason that I learned to go beyond clasping my hands over the table or kneeling at night before I went to bed.
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Below are some of my favorite prayers:
What I do know is that I’m quite sure the one thing that lifted that “Precious” child up was a woman named Blue – a teacher who never gave up on her, who loved her, who inspired her to keep learning . . . forever, no matter what. It’s my hope that each one of us has someone who can inspire us that way.
a
For me, that woman was one whom I never had a chance to meet, “the greatest woman I never knew” you might say. Her name was Helen and, I’ve been told, we shared the gift of Devotion. The stories that I listened to about her made me realize how much I love to learn, taught me to discover something new every day, and inspired me to take countless classes. And (soon) that inspiration will be with me when I return to school.
a
But the most precious gift that she gave me? She taught me to pray. Before I found out that she was sick, I regarded praying for someone much like thinking of them or hoping that they would get better. Afterwards, and for the first time in my life, I needed to believe that my prayers could do more than “think of” or “hope for” someone. I wanted them to be heard and answered. And so that is how, this woman who existed to me only in stories, is the reason that I learned to go beyond clasping my hands over the table or kneeling at night before I went to bed.
a
Below are some of my favorite prayers:
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Prayer for Healing
Father, I'm praying for _________________, who is in need of Your healing touch.
I ask You to look upon ___ with Your mercy and compassion.
I know our days are numbered and sometimes You have a different plan,
but You have taught us that sometimes we don't have what's needed
because we haven't asked, and so I ask for healing.
May Your Spirit help me when I don't know what to ask,
and above all, may Your will be done.
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Prayer for Strength
Father, I pray for _________________, who are carrying such heavy loads.
Your Word says an anxious heart weighs a person down, and this is how
I think ______ must feel—as if they're carrying heavy loads, more than they can bear.
When they feel upset and beside themselves, calm them down and comfort them
with the assurance of Your love. Help them not be overwhelmed by anxious thoughts.
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Prayer for Artists
Bless the creators, O God of creation, who by their gifts make the world
a more joyful and beautiful realm. Through their labors they teach us to see more clearly
the truth around us. In their inspiration they call forth wonder and awe in our own living.
In their hope and vision they remind us that life is holy.
Bless all who create in your image, O God of creation.
Pour your Spirit upon them that their hearts may sing and their works be fulfilling.
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Prayer for Healing
Father, I'm praying for _________________, who is in need of Your healing touch.
I ask You to look upon ___ with Your mercy and compassion.
I know our days are numbered and sometimes You have a different plan,
but You have taught us that sometimes we don't have what's needed
because we haven't asked, and so I ask for healing.
May Your Spirit help me when I don't know what to ask,
and above all, may Your will be done.
a
Prayer for Strength
Father, I pray for _________________, who are carrying such heavy loads.
Your Word says an anxious heart weighs a person down, and this is how
I think ______ must feel—as if they're carrying heavy loads, more than they can bear.
When they feel upset and beside themselves, calm them down and comfort them
with the assurance of Your love. Help them not be overwhelmed by anxious thoughts.
a
Prayer for Artists
Bless the creators, O God of creation, who by their gifts make the world
a more joyful and beautiful realm. Through their labors they teach us to see more clearly
the truth around us. In their inspiration they call forth wonder and awe in our own living.
In their hope and vision they remind us that life is holy.
Bless all who create in your image, O God of creation.
Pour your Spirit upon them that their hearts may sing and their works be fulfilling.
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And One That I Wrote
Dear God, Please hold _______ in your arms very tightly.
I have been so inspired by how many people care about ___.
I have been inspired by ______, ______, and ______.
I know that ___ has more to do in this lifetime, ___ truly does.
So please just take ___ word for it.
And keep ___ safe, heal ___ body, and protect ___ mind
with your hands and your heart.
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Dear God, Please hold _______ in your arms very tightly.
I have been so inspired by how many people care about ___.
I have been inspired by ______, ______, and ______.
I know that ___ has more to do in this lifetime, ___ truly does.
So please just take ___ word for it.
And keep ___ safe, heal ___ body, and protect ___ mind
with your hands and your heart.
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Tonight, I’m saying these prayers for my Grandmother. At the church, she’s Carol. And at Bridge, I like to imagine they call her “Red.” But to me . . . she’s just “Honey.”
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And, now, as I sit beside her and watch her sleep, my tears are for what a truly great woman she is. Recovering from surgery, she’s woken up twice. Once to remind me that we need to get an out-of-print copy of the Martha Bowman Cookbook to a friend of hers and once, as I held her hand, to look up at me at say “sometimes there’s just nothing to do but smile and be happy.”
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“Sometimes” I said . . . nodding as I bit my lip.
aS
(Ooh Girl It Is Soo) Hot This Week . . .
Happy Birthday Leigh Loyd!!!
a
And, now, as I sit beside her and watch her sleep, my tears are for what a truly great woman she is. Recovering from surgery, she’s woken up twice. Once to remind me that we need to get an out-of-print copy of the Martha Bowman Cookbook to a friend of hers and once, as I held her hand, to look up at me at say “sometimes there’s just nothing to do but smile and be happy.”
a
“Sometimes” I said . . . nodding as I bit my lip.
aS
(Ooh Girl It Is Soo) Hot This Week . . .
Happy Birthday Leigh Loyd!!!
Junior League Book Drive
Isabel’s
Trunk Show on Tuesday, 11/10, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
FREE MONOGRAM with every Cinda B. purchase.
A great afternoon with door prizes and more!
Ladies Night on Thursday, 11/12, 5:30 – 9:00
Make a date night at Isabel’s with your girlfriends!
Door Prizes include free monogramming, bath, body, bags, and more.
Tasty refreshments, and GIFT with PURCHASE!
Festival of Trees Gala, Friday, 11/13
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