tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732301974396653604.post5843238829866217299..comments2023-11-05T01:37:19.603-07:00Comments on The Write Stuff: What Would You Say?Eileen Rifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12263113178081805930noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732301974396653604.post-11508964437060733342012-11-27T08:10:23.880-08:002012-11-27T08:10:23.880-08:00Wow, ladies, what wisdom you bring to this topic! ...Wow, ladies, what wisdom you bring to this topic! <br /><br />Insight, prayers, sweetness, tears . . .<br /><br />You encouraged me this morning!<br /><br />Thank you. Eileen Rifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263113178081805930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732301974396653604.post-11606530168313148422012-11-27T08:08:35.028-08:002012-11-27T08:08:35.028-08:00I remember when I was the one receiving the comfor...I remember when I was the one receiving the comfort and affirmation. My mom had just died very suddenly of a brain aneurysm and we were all in total shock. At her viewing, my son took me outside the funeral home to look at the fountain and he pointed to a rainbow created by the mist of the water shining in the sunlight. "You know everything's going to be okay, right?" I asked him. "I do now," he said, nodding to the rainbow. His faith strengthened my faith and at the same time reminded me that by reading all those Bible stories about Noah's ark, I'd helped build his faith in the first place, just as my mom had done for me. It was a beautiful moment in the midst of our grief.Kate Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09286095357993261335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732301974396653604.post-85013122928250591632012-11-27T07:54:03.962-08:002012-11-27T07:54:03.962-08:00Just yesterday I had a conversation with a dear ma...Just yesterday I had a conversation with a dear man whose adult son committed suicide about a month ago. This grieving dad told me about spending several hours with his son just a few days before he took his life and shared that they had talked and laughed and really had a nice visit. He also shared his feelings of guilt over not having foreseen his son's actions and over not being able to have done something more to help his son. I guess my words of comfort went more to the point that my friend is not responsible for his son's actions. I know the dad tried to help his son in a number of ways prior to this, and was able to remind him of the things he had done to help to show him that there was nothing more he could have done. I gave him a hug and let him know I was still praying for him. His sorrow was so evident as tears spilled out although he tried to hold them back. I think my willingness to just listen and let him talk about it helped him.Joycenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-732301974396653604.post-86621086258191958392012-11-27T07:53:04.137-08:002012-11-27T07:53:04.137-08:00For years my husband and I have asked people - rig...For years my husband and I have asked people - right then, on the spot, "Would it be okay if we pray about this with you right now?" As I recall, we've had only one "no" and oh, what a difference this makes over patting a shoulder and saying, "I'll pray for you." But to get back to your encouraging idea, Eileen, when it comes to looking for other people to pray for us or finding the strongest pray-ers in a prayer group, we seek those who have suffered! The prayers of Christians who have been through terrible times seem to have a super-potent level of wisdom and strength, and it’s no wonder. Their faith has been tested big time! More importantly, they’ve learned how to relax into God’s good timing and love.Mary Saylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08709628386233742459noreply@blogger.com