Last week I shared the memories that I have about my mother’s faith teachings.  I also sent the blog to all my sisters and brothers and my family.  In return, my sister Francine, the keeper of historical documents, sent me a photo of the cards that my mother kept organizing her prayers requests.

I never realized that she had devised such a system as she had.  There was a card for each month, sometimes more than one, and on those cards, she listed the date and the names of the persons in need of prayer and the reason for prayer.  Each morning she would sit and hold the cards, praying for God’s help with her requests.

The photo struck a chord, – actually, more than one.  First, I felt regret that I had not taken the time to talk with my mother in more depth about her prayer practices.  I know that I could have learned more than the simple “Good Night, Sweet Jesus” prayer in that conversation. 

Mom did not like to move into areas where she felt out of her depth.  This was an intensely personal activity for her.  She would not have started the conversation.  I wish that I had.

Next, as I looked more closely at the cards, I noticed that she had listed five names on January 26, 2008.  The names of five young teens killed in a high-speed accident on the runway of the Anthony FL airport.  It was a horrifying tragedy.  My mother did not know these boys.  It did not matter.  My mother could feel the pain and sorrow of this loss and knew that the only way to turn for solace was to God. 

Empathy is such an important part of meaningful prayer.  Really feeling the sorrow of loss or the wonder of happiness or the confusion of indecision but not letting those feelings separate us from living.  So often the phrase “You are in my prayers” rolls off our tongues as an effort to comfort someone, but do we follow through and pray for them?  With an empathic attitude, we want to find relief, not only for the people for whom we pray, but for ourselves.  With empathy, we have determination and commitment.

I know that my mother would not have used the word empathy to describe why she felt moved to pray for those boys or any of the many others requests that she received.  Once again, her unwavering faith in a God, who loves us unconditionally, removed any question of why.  She just did it. 

Terri