Recently, we became members to a United Methodist Church in our community. For some reason, I felt our choice for Kathryn’s preschool was more important than our place to choose to worship. First, I toured preschools that were affiliated with churches, picked the preschool that I liked best & then my work of choosing a church was already done for me. I never thought I would say this, but…we have a church family. Until this point in my life I’ve not had the opportunity to be able to depend on those I went to church with like they were family. Church. Faith. Prayer. They have become very important to our family. They have given us strength. And, our choice in preschool has proven to be a decision that I am glad I made because the church is a pretty good fit, too. Here is one reason why…I received an email from Pastor Don’s wife, Amy last week when they were preparing to leave on a trip heading to Israel…these are her words…
One of the traditions that we keep when we travel to Israel is that I write the names of children down and we carry the paper with us and bless the children (from afar) at the River Jordan, then later in the trip we pray for each child and slip the papers that have the prayers (the names of the children) into the cracks in what was originally called the Western Wall, but is now often referred to as the Wailing Wall because it is a sacred place for Jews and Christians alike, who often pray there, sometimes wail, and sometimes slip prayers written on paper through the wall’s welcoming fissures.
It is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. It is a remnant of the ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple’s courtyard. Just over half the wall dates from the end of the Second Temple period, having been constructed around 19 BCE by Herod the Great.
I requested Kathryn’s name be placed on her list. I actually didn't have to make my request because she is on her personal prayer list at home. She personally put Kathryn on the list & she was the first child to start the list of nearly 2000…wow, the way I look at it, it can’t hurt having too many connections to The Man Upstairs…&, the final email from her…again, in her words because I didn’t want to misconstrue her message by rewording what she said…
Today before Don and I went into the prayer areas of the Wailing Wall (women and men have separated sections), we prayed together over the names of the children and then Don took the names and placed them in the wall and prayed over them.
The list included about 2,000 names (big church and lots of friends), and God knows them all and heard our collective prayer for them, but there were 4 babies/children that we prayed for by name:
Baby Morris - the prayed-for; hoped-for; longed-for; and already loved child of Whitney, my "dear, dear, 'I don't know what I would do without her' best princess friend" and her husband, Tim (I like him, too).
Baby Galasso - the also prayed-for; hoped-for; longed-for; and already loved child of Michael and Jodie Galasso and grandchild of my angel from God and one of my triplets, Gayle Galasso and her pretty darn good hubby, David.
On the prayer sheets that were placed in the crevices of the Wailing Wall, I included the following verse under Baby Morris's and Baby Galasso's names:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." Jeremiah 1:5
Cameron Elizabeth Evans - (unborn daughter, due Dec. 1, of a friend I was lucky enough to meet on a mission trip the years Don was consulting and we belonged to Highland Park UMC) - the doctors have given Cameron a bad diagnosis, but her parents continue to stand on God's promises.
Kathryn Moore - I have the privilege of being Kathryn's mommy's (Melissa) Mentor Mom in our Mom to Mom Bible study. Kathryn will be having heart surgery December 14 (or 15 - my mind is slipping some).
On the prayer sheets that were placed in the crevices of the Wailing Wall, I included the following verse under Cameron's and Kathryn's names:
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11.
The pictures: there are 3 pictures of candles. Each one has 5 candles that I lit and said special prayers - one for each of the four children and one for all of the other children collectively. The first candle set was lit at Mary's house. The second candle set was lit in the Church of the Nativity right next to the steps down into the grotto where you can reach down and touch the spot where it is believed Christ was born. Our 5 candles are in the front. I tried to move other candles around but couldn't do too much. I am a little pushy. The last candle set outside the garden of Gethsemane. The picture of Don is him placing the prayers in the wall.
The picture of me is in front of the Pool of Bethesda where I had prayed for the children because it was where people were healed by Jesus a lot...
This has led me to ask myself…do I have a wailing wall? I do. Actually, it’s where ever I am at the time. It moves with me. It's there for me to lean on, wail at, pray at. Since Kathryn was diagnosed with a hole in her heart, I pray a lot. I cry. I pray. I hope. I make bargains. I get angry. I have faith. I offer myself instead.
Thanks so much for visiting and remember to ALWAYS enjoy your own life's wild ride!
