Prayer is Powerful

I have to admit, I have not always kept up with praying for certain people every day. I have daily prayers but I split them up and pray for certain people every other day just because my list seemingly gets bigger and bigger by day. I would not describe my list of prayers as overwhelming but more of a joyful blessing. It amazes me to see so many people I can pray for. Prayer has been the biggest part of my relationship with Christ. I remember a time growing up where I loved praying so much that it became a routine thing. I would pray during class, walking down the hallway to my next class and especially at night before going to bed. My mom taught my brother Lucas and I to pray before each meal and before going to sleep. I can remember getting underneath her shawl that she called her prayer temple/tabernacle. I always felt like I was in a very Holy cave. It was both comforting and chilling. She would allow me to pray every night. I would pray for every single family member by name. It is probably my favorite childhood memory. After I said my prayers she would pray a blessing over my brother and me:

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. May He bless you with sweet words to say from your lips. May He put clean thoughts in your head. And may His love be shown through your heart onto others.”

As she would pray the last three blessings over us, she would draw a cross with her finger on our lips, foreheads, and over our hearts.  I always felt such a strong feeling of love not just from my mom but from God. Many times as my mom would pray this over me I would watch her as she spoke those sweet words. Her face shiny from the oil she put on it and the corners of her mouth struggling to pull back into a smile because of the tears that would fall from her eyes. I could see that she was feeling both happy to have children and yet sorrowful because God’s love reached beyond her comprehension. At least that is how I interpreted her feelings as a child. I am so blessed to have grown up with such a wonderful woman of faith.