Thoughts and Prayers
“I’m praying for you,” ‘thoughts
and prayers,’ or ‘thinking of you,’ are statements that roll off the tip of the
tongue, close out a Get Well card, and more often than not, end a Facebook or Twitter posting
in response to the other person’s troubles or loss. ‘Thoughts and prayers’
speak to the need and says the message the writer wishes to convey to the
friend or colleague going through a hard time.
But there is an outcry against this sort of thing. Some say it has little impact and falls short of caring, indicating it's trite and silly. But is it really? I beg to differ.
When the person infers they’re praying, the other person receives it as ‘I’m standing with you in this, and I am backing you up in prayer.’
But there is an outcry against this sort of thing. Some say it has little impact and falls short of caring, indicating it's trite and silly. But is it really? I beg to differ.
When the person infers they’re praying, the other person receives it as ‘I’m standing with you in this, and I am backing you up in prayer.’
Yes, words like these bring comfort to the afflicted and light to the journey. People need each others’ comfort and encouragement. Dark days in the daily or on the horizon come to all people, spiritual or not. How others respond to the crisis, with love and prayers, makes a difference, and may determine whether the hurting person feels alone, or feels cared for by those who know their troubles.
I am more aware and self-conscious when I write the phrase ‘thoughts and prayers’ because of the criticism. Some see the sentiment as shallow, disingenuous, or as something that simply doesn’t work or move people to do the right thing. Is this criticism justified? Are ‘thoughts and prayers’ at fault? Does it not deliver the goods? Certainly, prayers should include right hearts and spiritual actions. The phrase is meant as an encouragement, a kind way to say, I’m hanging in there with you.
For some, it’s not just a phrase, they do pray, and their prayers make a difference. How much difference, only God knows.
People reach out to each other in a way their community accepts and believes. In the Christian/religious community these kinds of phrases communicate the human element in combination with the God element. It invokes the Divine Presence to minister to the human area of need. “Thinking of you” is a secular form of addressing and acknowledging a loss or struggle. I think it brings comfort in its own way.
I mean it when I say, thoughts and prayers. How about you?
No comments:
Post a Comment