Prayer Buddy Reveal!

This prayer buddy round, I had the honor of praying for This Cross I Embrace.  TCIE is well known to all of us.  I am a regular reader of her blog and am often inspired and in awe of her writing.  She was already so often in my thoughts and prayers.  I was so humbled when I received her name.  I honestly did not feel 'holy' enough to pray for her.  I thought she was so worthy of a better prayer warrior.  Someone who could REALLY pray.  I quickly got over those thoughts and was determined to prayer as hard as I ever have for TCIE and her husband.

Praying for TCIE gave my prayer life some much needed direction.  She was in my constant thoughts and prayers.  When I say constant, I mean constant (but not in a weird stalker way!).  She was one of my first thoughts in the morning.  Whenever I opened my phone to read the blogs (which is often!  Ha!), I said a prayer for her.  I would be sitting at work and she would come to mind and I'd stop and say a quick prayer.  And of course, she was in my nightly prayers.

I joined TCIE in her novenas to St. Raphael and St. Anne.  I had already planned on praying a novena for her and her husband to the Archangel Raphael, with a focus on healing.  So when TCIE mentioned doing a novena to the Archangel on her blog, I decided to do it at the same time!!  It was perfect! St. Raphael is one of my FAVORITE SAINTS - EVER!!  I think I have said more novena's to St. Raphael (especially in my single days) than any other saint!  I hope St. Raphael was a powerful intercessor for her.

There were times in the prayer buddy season that I knew TCIE was down, sad, frustrated, hurt, etc.  I pleaded for God to be with her during these times.  I have such a hard time understanding why someone so wonderful has to endure so much suffering.  I honestly do not understand it.  I know there is the redemptive value of suffering... but still... WHY??  Why TCIE?  Why can't I carry her cross for her and let her receive bountiful blessings??  I asked a priest about this without giving any specific details.  He reminded me that Christ was a wonderful person as well.  Yet, he had to suffer on the cross.  It was an answer I expected and left me still struggling with the 'why' of it all for weeks.  He encouraged me to pray with all my might for my friend, to offer any suffering on my part for her.  That I did.  The priest reassured me that my prayers are heard... even when I feel they are not.  I'm not sure if any of my prayers were answered for TCIE, but I know I tried my very best.

As this prayer buddy round comes to an end, TCIE, please know that I (and all the bloggers) promise to stand by you, pray for you and support you.  Thank you for inspiring me by your willingness to take this journey, not just today, but tomorrow and the next day.  I pray that in the worst and best of times, that God too, will be with you, bestowing his grace and love upon you always.

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Thank you so much, Some how, Some way, Some day, for praying for me!!!  Those prayers mean the world to me!!  I cannot thank you enough!