A mother wrote to me: I wonder how many prayers we have lifted up as moms of children in this journey? And how many prayers others have lifted up on our behalf in an effort to do something, anything to support our both tender and strong mother hearts. How many prayers are lifted up, especially during those times when there is no clear answer to, “What do I do?”
Time heals, the brain heals, our hearts heal…little by little. I’ve come to believe that ‘little by little’ turns out to be way bigger than we tend to give it credit. Hope fuels us through the hardest miles.
I’ve attached a song about prayer that I recorded for a friend who was going through a challenge a few years ago. It was written by John Elliot and the lyrics remind us how much comfort and strength come to us through those who never hesitate to ‘pray us along.’
Dedication: This mom and I offer you the song with our love. For me, I dedicate it to my mom who bombarded the heavens for Jeff. He was always in her prayers and in her heart. She is our prayer warrior. She prays us along – all of us, my brothers and their families, me and mine. She knows no other way. Thanks, Mom. We love you.
(Please click on the link above the photo 01 Somebody’s Praying to hear the song.)
Somebody’s prayin, I can feel it
Somebody’s prayin’ for me
Mighty hands are guiding me
To protect me from what I can’t see
Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe
Somebody’s prayin’ for me.
Angels are watchin’, I can feel it
Angels are watchin’ over me
There’s many miles ahead ’til I get home
Still I’m safely kept before your thrown
‘Cause Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe
Your angels are watchin’ over me.
Well, I’ve walked through barren wilderness
Where my pillow was a stone
And I’ve been through the darkest caverns
Where no light had ever shown.
Still I went on ’cause there was someone
Who was down on their knees
And Lord, I thank you for those people
Prayin’ all this time for me.
Somebody’s prayin’, I can feel it
Somebody’s prayin’ for me
Mighty hands are guiding me
To protect me from what I can’t see
Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe
Somebody’s prayin’ for me…
View Comments (14)
What a beautiful song!! Thank you for sharing it. I do believe in the power of prayer. It (prayer) consoles us, gives us hope, warms our souls and fills our hearts with love for our heavenly Father and his angels.
Libby, you are such an inspiration to all of us. I truly believe that the gift you have (and bestow on us) is from God.
Thank you Libby and thank God for the inspiration he gives you. Jeff is still sober because of it.
With love and blessings,
Barbara
Thank you, Barbara, for staying close all this time. Why is Jeff sober? I still don't know, not for sure. Is it prayer, is it that he chooses every day, is it luck or is it that he couldn't live the life he was living. I know that I believe in God. Jeff says he believes in someone/something bigger than he is big. "I don't have to take care of all the details," he tells me. "I believe."
Love you, Barbara.
This is so beautiful, Dr. Cataladi! I know I believe. How could you not? Love you always. PS you look just like your mom... beautiful!!!
Katherine
Angel, I love you!!! How wonderful to get a message here from you. I didn't even know that you read the mediations. You touch me deeply.
I believe, too. There is somebody praying for you. That somebody is me :). Love you, more than you know.
A few years ago when I was at what seemed like the end of the earth for me and my son I was desperate for relief. I picked up the phone and called my sponsor at that time. Her words to me, "Jane when there seems to be nothing else and no path to take, prayer is the path......" Prayer is my path and I try as hard as I can to keep turning it over to God. Nothing else has worked but Let go and let God...my son is sober for many months now and I only know that God has answered my prayers not always in ways I wanted, but in ways we needed. God is with us, and I pray for all of us in this difficult situation.
Jane
Dear Jane, The desperation of not knowing what to do, knowing that there is nothing we can do and finding no relief is suffocating. I, too, got on my knees and prayed. "Let go and let God," was my mantra, thousands of times each day. Let's keep each other and our families in prayer.
I found myself praying a lot this weekend for friends who are going through this pain for the first time. I was reminded of the excruciating pain I felt. Here is a poem I wrote after dropping my son off at a rehab a year and 1/2 ago
How Can I Explain
If you never kissed your baby, one second after birth
If you never raised a child, each moment spent with him
If you never held him close all night to feel his breath on your cheek
You cannot know what I feel, a feeling so bleak.
How can I explain a pain that goes so deep
The obsession of my mind
Cannot unwind.
How can I explain the torment of the night?
Is he still there?
Did he take flight?
Is there strength left to fight?
How can I explain the questions of my mind?
The conversations in my head
The accusations from me to me
The lack of sleep taking place in bed.
How can I explain
The tears that just show up
When you talk about your kids
When I hear about their lives
Triggers for sadness on a moment’s notice
Every holiday a reminder
Every graduation a major trigger
Simple things throughout the day
Trigger a memory
Like hitting the button called “replay”.
Detaching is not easy when your name has been Mom
Like forgetting where you’ve been, who you are, what made you tick.
How do I forget he was a love of my life?
A golden boy;
past tense
still alive,
but never the same.
How could I begin to explain
The unexplainable, the invisible, extraordinary pain?
Dear Jane, how I related to your poem. It hit so deep, I cried.
Thank you for sharing your very personal poem with us.
You'll always stay in my prayers.....
It's amazing how each and everyone of us can relate to each other and our triumphs and tragedies like no one else can. I am grateful for all of you as we help each other recover. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.
Dear Jane, I agree with Barbara and your poem touched me deeply. These lines in particular hit me:
Every holiday a reminder
Every graduation a major trigger
Simple things throughout the day
Trigger a memory
Like hitting the button called “replay”.
Detaching is not easy when your name has been Mom.
How do moms 'detach' from our flesh and blood. It's all so complicated.
My love to you and Barbara. Prayers for a blessed Thanksgiving.