Prayer and Life

I came across a quote I like about prayer, written by St. Therese of Lisieux. “For me, prayer means launching out of the heart towards God; it means lifting up one’s eyes, quite simply, to Heaven, a cry of grateful love from the crest of joy or the trough of despair; it’s a vast supernatural force which opens out my heart, and binds me close to Jesus.”

Binds me close to Jesus…isn’t that a vividly descriptive way to put it? do you know what that reminds me of? Well, it reminds me of when my son was tiny. There were times when he just really needed to be swaddled. At those times I would either swaddle him up and put him in his crib or I wold carry him around the house for awhile. But when I carried him at those times, I didn’t carry him in my arms. I put him in a Snuggli~and carried him (chest to chest, kind of) in the Snuggli pack. It looked kind of like this”

Now, when I did this it was amazingly calming. It was as though he’d say oh! I’ve got the world holding me close, and now I DO feel better.

He went through a phase where he needed that partway through the day every day. I;d just hold him close and gently sing and walk around. It slowed me down to a saner pace each day and helped me to “be ever-present to him”. It made his world round again.

Since God calls us to pray always, when we do, we also feel that “swaddled” or “snuggled” feeling. Our hearts fly to rest in His. That is why we must pray and praise. Our hearts fly to Him each time….like little tiny homing pigeons flying home to Him. Or are we like hummingbirds~feeding on the nectar from the blossoms in His love…

I share with you one more quote ~ from St. Patrick of Ireland: “I was like a stone lying in the deep mire; and He that is mighty came, and in His mercy lifted me up, and verily raised me aloft and placed me on the top of the wall.”

Now I ask you this~when are we stones on the wall offering protection and strength, and when are we stepping stones that provide guidance? I offer photos of both, of course!