Ticomaya wrote:Chai Tea wrote:ehBeth wrote:Don't pray, don't tell.
really.
if you want to pray, go ahead...but as soon as you have to talk about it, it's not about the sick or suffering person, it's about how great you are.
kinda like a funeral, it's doesn't have a thing in the world to do with the dead person...it's either comforting the attendees or showing how wonderful you are for honoring them.
Just leave me out on the curb in a hefty bag on bulky trash day.
Can you clarify, CT? What about all the expressions of sympathy/support/prayer on A2K? Is it all about the
members expressing those thoughts, in your view? Those that contribute those kind of posts are only doing so to make themselves feel better, or show everyone else how great they are?
Or are you setting expressions of prayer apart from expressions of sympathy or support? (and if so, why?)
Yes, sure I can clarify.
I see a difference between expressing sympathy/support and praying for someone.
It's a matter of the moment. If you told us you are coming down with a case of the flu, I could say "Oh man, I'm sorry you're going to have to go through all that....hope you feel better" I'm acknowledging you're going to have a rough couple of days, and perhaps letting you know that I've been through that too, so you know you're not alone, and others have made it through. I'm fully aware that my hoping you'll feel better will not do a thing with making it so. I'm just indicating that it would be a good thing to get better. You know my hoping won't do anything either, but it might be nice to know in that moment.
Support? If I lived near you I could say, "Would you like me to go to the store for you?" on the internet I could do something useful like say "Would you like me to send you an article about this?" or "here's a link to some fun mindless games to play while you're recovering." Something practical in both cases.
If the situation were reversed, and you said you hope I feel better soon, I'm thinking "that nice of him" but it's all in that moment. I know that 2 minutes from now you're most likely thinking of something else.
If you said you were going to pray for me, I'm thinking "jeez, It's bad enough I'm sick, now I've got to be responsible for the fact he's taking all this time out of his day, who knows how many times and for how long, to spend time begging God for something that will resovle itself either way over the course of time?
I believe if you're praying for someone close to you, it's just a replacement for the concept of worrying.
I've been there. I recall following an ambulance to the hospital one night and saying "oh God, this is too soon, don't let him die now.....Then, I immediatley thought...."But this might be what's in the cards right now....thy will be done....help me to deal with it if that's what your plans are"
Then, I left it in the hands of medical science, one of Gods tools.
oh....and yeah sure, I'll admit it, sometimes when I've said 'hope you feel better' to someone here.....I do mean it...but it makes me feel better too for throwing my two cents in too.
