My sister often prays for others, even though some would think she has more than enough on her own plate. Betty’s in long-term care and will never go “home” again. The part that I get a kick out of is that she’ll pray, individually, for folks, one at a time. They each get her full attention. She’ll pray five decades of a Rosary for one person; then another five for a second person; and so on. Even though she is confined and restricted, she is free and generous when she prays for others. It makes her feel good, feel like she is doing something to help.
Me? I figure God made me in His image and if I can do several things at once, then He, who is infinitely greater than I am, can surely remember if I give Him a list of who I’m praying for, and trust Him to distribute the solutions according to what He knows is needed. If I can do two or three things at once, He must be able to do a gazillion things at once.
I’m always afraid I’ll forget someone I’ve promised to pray for, which is another reason I give God my wish-list as just that, a list. I’ll often start off, “Please, God, ease the suffering of the following friends and those I’ve promised to pray for. Please show them the way to deal with their situation and give them the strength to endure it while they wait for your plans to work out. And, Father, if I’ve accidentally forgotten to mention, specifically, someone I’ve promised these prayers for, I know you can remember and will be generous and compassionate in your mercy.”
It doesn’t matter if you pray for one at a time, or for a whole bunch of people at once; God can sort it out, and I feel sure he’ll be happy to do so, happy that we care enough to even ask for the help.
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