Prayer Thread

Sun May 17, 2009 10:19 pm

Hi Glowy! I will pray for a positive result from the experimental treatment and send my best wishes to you, your father, and your whole family!

Post by **Glawariel** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:26 pm

Thanks, friends

Post by **JewelSong** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:57 pm

I just got word that my Uncle David, aged 85, passed away in his sleep unexpectedly. This was sad enough news, as he seemed to be in perfect health. (Our family is all on good terms, but you lose touch sometimes over the years.)

So we also found out that my cousin Phoebe (his daughter) has been going through her own hell on earth. In July, 2007, her 17 year old son was murdered in a boating incident. He was knee-boarding behind the boat when the driver (another teen) suddenly turned the boat and drove straight into him - deliberately and without swerving or attempting to slow down.

He was finally tried and convicted of 2nd degree murder and his sentencing is next month. I contacted my cousin and she has just been devastated by this.

This is not her first tragedy. Years ago, she lost her first child, a little girl, on the operating table at the age of 18 months - she had been born with a heart defect and they were attempting to repair it. Her marriage fell apart, she remarried and rebuilt her life and now...to lose her son in such a way.

Prayers for all, please. Phoebe, her husband John, her two remaining children, Penelope and Jack and my Aunt Penny, David's widow.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:06 pm

Absolutely, Jewel. What a horrific tragedy your cousin has suffered, and your whole family—and now losing your uncle as well.

Post by **Frelga** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:44 pm

Jewel, my condolences to your family, and prayers for your cousin and her family. I hope she can find the strength to go on with her life after that horrible tragedy.

Post by **Rowanberry** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:27 am

My condolences, Jewel, and I'm wishing all the best for your cousin and her family.

Post by **Lalaith** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:06 pm

That's terrible.

I'm praying for her and the rest of your family.

I've mentioned it elsewhere, but I'll put it here, too. Freddy's dad is still in the hospital. His cancer is terminal, and he is recovering from a surgical procedure, dealing with a MRSA infection, and now suffering TIAs (mini-strokes). They aren't sure if the TIAs are from cancer cells or what.

When we went up to see him this past week, he treated Freddy and I very badly. This is part of a pattern of behavior, but it was particularly hurtful at this time. We did not go back to the hospital to see him again while we were there, which was honestly mostly out of consideration for him. (Freddy was so hurt and angry that he was afraid of what he'd say to his dad, and his dad didn't need to deal with that at that time.)

I need prayer that Freddy's dad will be open to reconciling the relationship before it's too late.

To make matters worse (is that possible? oh, yes, it is!), Freddy's dad has been pushing for a divorce. It's been fairly messy and ugly. Freddy's mom is now living on her own in a nice, new condo, which is good for her, though this whole thing is very difficult for her. And there is a girlfriend involved. Freddy's mom is not handling that well, and everything sort of crashed in on her yesterday (apparently--we weren't there). So prayers for Freddy's mom would be appreciated, too.

And, of course, for us and for our girls. They know their grandpa is going to die sooner rather than later, and that is a hard thing for a child to deal with, even if they've not been particularly close to him (by his own choices).

Post by **JewelSong** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:36 pm

Lalaith wrote: I need prayer that Freddy's dad will be open to reconciling the relationship before it's too late.

Lali, I have been thinking about this very painful situation and what (if anything) can be done. The only person Freddy can control is himself and his own actions. I wonder if it would be possible for him to find some peace by openly forgiving his Dad, without expecting anything in return from him.

Could he do that? Could he go to him, say, "Dad, I want you to know that I forgive you and that I love you" and then walk away? His Dad might come around...but even if he didn't he would die knowing that Freddy loved him.

Thank you for your prayers for my cousin. You are all in my prayers as well...

Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:42 pm

Lali, I have no words of wisdom. But I will pray for all of you.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:46 pm

So will I.

Post by **Lalaith** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:49 pm

JewelSong wrote:
Lalaith wrote: I need prayer that Freddy's dad will be open to reconciling the relationship before it's too late.
Lali, I have been thinking about this very painful situation and what (if anything) can be done. The only person Freddy can control is himself and his own actions. I wonder if it would be possible for him to find some peace by openly forgiving his Dad, without expecting anything in return from him.

Could he do that? Could he go to him, say, "Dad, I want you to know that I forgive you and that I love you" and then walk away? His Dad might come around...but even if he didn't he would die knowing that Freddy loved him.

Well, funny you should say that... He called his dad this morning; his dad said that he doesn't remember anything from the other night but acknowledged that he'd done wrong things to Freddy, to the family, etc. Freddy told him that he forgave him. (He'll be working on doing that for a long time, I think, but this was more for his dad's peace of mind than Freddy's own.)

It's a step in the right direction.

And thank you all for your prayers.

Post by **JewelSong** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:30 pm

Freddy's Dad sounds like a very conflicted and unhappy person...I'm glad Freddy called him. As you say, it's a step...and who knows how much time there is left.

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:47 pm

It might be important to Freddy's peace of mind in future years that his dad heard him say that, whether or not Freddy was able to believe it himself at the time. Forgiveness is one of those virtues you sometimes have to pretend to have, on the long journey to a place where it can become real.

Post by **Lalaith** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:51 am

That's all very true--about Freddy's dad and about forgiveness in general.

I know that, personally, I have had to make the decision to forgive certain people every time I begin to think about them. It's a constant process, iow--one that gets a little bit easier each time you do it. And, eventually, it gets to be real.

Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:02 am

Wise words from a wise woman.

Post by **WampusCat** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:36 am

Prayers for your families, Jewel and Lali.

Post by **Rowanberry** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:53 pm

Lali, I'm praying for you and Freddy the way I "pray".

And, it's good to hear that some steps toward reconciliation have been taken.

Post by **vison** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:39 pm

My friend Riley is having heart surgery this morning. He will be in pre-op right now. He's 11 years old and the coolest little kid. He has a problem with a very rapid heartbeat, sometimes it gets over 200 beats a minute and it is quite a frightening thing. He is otherwise very healthy and this surgery is expected to be a piece of cake, they are going to do something to some "node" that causes this rapid heartbeat. If they can't deal with the node, he will get a pacemaker. It is not open heart surgery, it will all be done through the aorta from his groin or if they need to put in a pacemaker it will be done from the back, through his ribs. At any rate, it's going to be a long procedure, probably 4 or 5 hours.

He and his mum and dad and brother are very dear friends of ours, the boys are pretty well the same ages as my boys. So think about Riley and hope all goes well, please.

Post by **Lalaith** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:49 pm

I will, vison. He sounds like he has superventricular tachycardia, which my mother-in-law has. She has avoided the surgery so far, but it's always a possibility. I'm praying the surgery goes well for Riley!

Post by **Teremia** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:37 pm

vison, my sister had this from childhood, and since the surgery to fix it is relatively new, she lived for decades with terrible attacks of tachycardia. Then, a couple of years, she went in for surgery, and was CURED. Really, it's miraculous how well that surgery can work, and how dramatic a change that can be in someone's life! All that fear -- gone! No more emergency rooms. She can even EAT CHOCOLATE!!!! She was worried about the pacemaker possibility, but her node turned out to be dangerously close to whatever that key nerve is, and still her surgery went perfectly, and she is absolutely fine.

Praying for the same for Riley! And how wonderful that he may be cured at the age of eleven!

Jewel, the story about your cousin's family breaks my heart. Thinking of all of them and holding them in the Light.

And Lali, what you (and others here) say about forgiveness is so, so true. It's hard work -- AND it's a kind of miraculous gift when it comes. Mysterious thing! I'm glad Freddy and his father had that conversation, and I wish peace and healing for all concerned.