Almost 2 years ago I received a package in the mail from someone I’d never met, a woman named Amy. It was a beautiful knit blanket/shawl that had been prayed over by her church. It had a little note written with it:
May God’s Grace be upon this shawl…warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing. May this mantle be a safe haven…a sacred place of security and well-being. Sustaining and embracing… in good times as well as difficult ones. May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in HOPE, kept in JOY, graced with PEACE, and wrapped in LOVE. Blessed Be!
I passed along this special blanket to a special friend today…adding prayers to it. Maybe it will just keep going, building and spreading prayers with it as it travels.
People are always asking what to give to friends who are going through illness or loss. I love this gift of prayer. And it doesn’t have to be a handmade shawl (because I can’t knit or crochet despite numerous attempts, so that’s not an option for me)…maybe a handmade quilt, or just a soft blanket purchased from the store.
And then have everyone you know say the little prayer above over it.
Two books on prayer that I love…
Help Thanks Wow by Anne Lamott
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
Such a beautiful post. My sister was diagnosed with cancer in September and before her surgery some of the women she worked with bought her a shawl from one of their church’s that had been prayed over. I didn’t even think of the pay it forward aspect of the gift but now will definitely remember to do this if there is a need. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a blessed and joyous New Year.
I have wanted to do this before! I love how you passed it on to another person. Such a great idea, Ashley. Prayer, indeed, gets me through each day.
May God continue to bless you in all you do this new year!
I love this post….The Holy Spirit thru Paul in Thessalonians, “Pray without ceasing for this is the will of God”. In His presence is peace and the fullness of Joy.
Thanks, Ash, for reminding us to pray. More miracles are wrought by prayer than this world dreams, said Ralph Waldo Emerson.
After my daughter passed away and I had to return to work instead of be on maternity leave a fiend had place a box on my desk with a little pink handkerchief in it and a note that read “so you always know there is a friend near by, to catch every tear you need to cry” people are wonderful.
To Amy (the creator) and to Ashley (the giver) thank you.
When I opened your gift box, and saw the BEAUTY inside…the weight of the wool and the colors–blue & heather interwoven–well, I just sat in my car and had a good cry.
Impossible to imagine a more loving, thoughtful or meaningful gift. Especially on the day I opened it…sadness turned to strength and I thought of the long thread connecting me to you, you to Amy and Amy to her church group who prayed over it…giving it wings to land in California!
I joyfully wrapped it around my shoulders this morning as I read the Prayer of St. Francis–“For it is in giving we receive…” and that, my friend, is you.
The power of prayer is found in your warm shawl and the power of your friendship (and easy laughter) is like sunshine on my face.
You are like the sun and I love you,
Shivaun