<p class="bodytext">A Church youth-group Zealously went house-to-house reassuring families of prayers. They visited the home of a poor lady confined to a wheelchair. She lived all alone. </p>.<p class="bodytext">After praying, they promised “Mamma, be assured we will be praying for you everyday”. They were shocked at her reply “I wouldn’t need your prayers if you could rather clean up the house, do the dishes and water my potted plants”. </p>.Letting things be: The art of acceptance.<p class="bodytext">The lady echoes what millions of people experience in life daily. People, young and old, are stalked by feelings of insecurity and helplessness. It’s not so much about material needs but a yearning for an empathetic listening, a shoulder to lean-on and a helping-hand along life’s unpredictable journey.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Praying for others helpd, but there is greater meaning and fulfilment when we make concerted actions toward the ones we are praying for.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mother Teresa, known to spend hours in personal and community prayer for the dying and the destitute, one night while walking through the streets of Kolkata saw a beggar in agony. Instead of merely offering prayers for the man, she took him to her shelter-home, dressed his wounds and provided him food and warmth. His condition deteriorated but she stayed by his side, offering comfort. The beggar died peacefully, with Mother Teresa holding his hand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Bible is replete with exhortations to pray and to journey with people who ask our prayers. St. Paul writes “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” ( I Thessalonians 5:11). “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). He emphasized being with each other in good times and bad “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).</p>.<p class="bodytext">Though praying for others would mean going down on our knees before God, such prayer finds deeper meaning and effectiveness when we bend our knees in humble and active service to others.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Bible crisply explains what Prayer and Faith-in-action means. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.(Matthew 25:35-36).</p>.<p class="bodytext">How are you bending your knees for others?</p>
<p class="bodytext">A Church youth-group Zealously went house-to-house reassuring families of prayers. They visited the home of a poor lady confined to a wheelchair. She lived all alone. </p>.<p class="bodytext">After praying, they promised “Mamma, be assured we will be praying for you everyday”. They were shocked at her reply “I wouldn’t need your prayers if you could rather clean up the house, do the dishes and water my potted plants”. </p>.Letting things be: The art of acceptance.<p class="bodytext">The lady echoes what millions of people experience in life daily. People, young and old, are stalked by feelings of insecurity and helplessness. It’s not so much about material needs but a yearning for an empathetic listening, a shoulder to lean-on and a helping-hand along life’s unpredictable journey.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Praying for others helpd, but there is greater meaning and fulfilment when we make concerted actions toward the ones we are praying for.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mother Teresa, known to spend hours in personal and community prayer for the dying and the destitute, one night while walking through the streets of Kolkata saw a beggar in agony. Instead of merely offering prayers for the man, she took him to her shelter-home, dressed his wounds and provided him food and warmth. His condition deteriorated but she stayed by his side, offering comfort. The beggar died peacefully, with Mother Teresa holding his hand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Bible is replete with exhortations to pray and to journey with people who ask our prayers. St. Paul writes “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” ( I Thessalonians 5:11). “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). He emphasized being with each other in good times and bad “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).</p>.<p class="bodytext">Though praying for others would mean going down on our knees before God, such prayer finds deeper meaning and effectiveness when we bend our knees in humble and active service to others.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Bible crisply explains what Prayer and Faith-in-action means. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.(Matthew 25:35-36).</p>.<p class="bodytext">How are you bending your knees for others?</p>
