My life has drastically changed. Not too long ago, praying wasn’t something I thought of doing when I was caught in a rut, when I was extremely happy, every morning and every night. If I ask someone for advice and they don’t give me any except, “I’ll pray for you”, chances are, I never asked that person again.
For the longest time, I didn’t know I was missing my now greatest treasure on earth.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:21
I find that prayer not only brings me closer to God, it also brings me closer to the people He’s given me. When I got hired at my new job, the first thing I wanted to do was go to Adoration. So later that night, I went. It was such a blessing because my mom came with me. On the way home, we talked about how thankful I was for the many blessings I have received. The whole job application process was such a joy despite the anxiety because a lot of the people I really treasure kept following up with me and telling me that they’re praying for me. My heart was overflowing with love! Then she told me a story.
My parents were chain smokers when they had me. That resulted to me being in the hospital diagnosed with asthma when I was a baby. I spent a long time confined because I wasn’t getting better. My parents, being in the community already at that time, asked their household and a bunch of other people to pray for me. After that, I was released from the hospital and my parents never smoked again. The power of prayer!
It made me realize that people have been praying for me even when I didn’t know what prayer was. It made me realize how much people love me that they would go to the Father and ask Him to send graces upon me. Everyday, I know that I am able to go through whatever comes my way because I believe that I am loved. I believe that the blessings I have are not of my own effort, but by the Grace of God that the people I love so willingly ask for for me.
My Father, grant me the grace to have a heart for prayer. Help me treasure only the things that will bring me to Heaven. Mother Mary, most prayerful, bestow upon me the graces entrusted to you. Amen.