- MY PERSONAL PRAYER TO GOD -

Dear Father in Heaven,

On bended knees and with a bowed head, I praise your holy name. I love you with every being of my soul. I trust you with my whole heart and give you my life today and forevermore.

Through the many trials I have survived with your loving arms around me, give me the words to help others know they can survive the hardships of this life no matter how bad it gets.

Many friends and acquaintances think I am so lucky because of the many blessings you have bestowed upon me. They do not know of the deaths of those close to me including my dad who choked to death in my arms or my only brother, Dougie, who was my whole world was killed in Vietnam in 1966. They do not know of my brutal assault or my near death when a doctor collapsed a lung by mistake or the 2 miscarriages of babies I wanted so bad to have. They do not know of the unfairness of lost jobs because I stood up for what was right according to your rules and in turn not having enough money to pay bills or buy food. They do not know of the anorexia and the hard road back. They do not know that those trials were all blessing you allowed me to go through in order to make me who I am today. As hard as it was and the many tears I shed while begging you to let me die because I could not see an end to it, you lead me through the trying times. I always thought I was alone, but now that I look back I see that you sent so many people to help me to hold on. A stranger giving me a smile, a friend sharing a hug, an unspoken glance from a co-worker saying it'll be ok, and family who did their best. I'm sorry I didn't see you in each of them. Please use my experience and words to help the hurting and give them hope.

Help others to know that it is okay to cry. When they are sad or lonely, please help them to see that they can come to you and you will comfort, hold and love them unconditionally. Father, use me to tell them that the world can destroy their loved one's body but their soul is always safe in your hands. No one can touch their soul except you with your love and compassion.

Father, use me to tell them how much you love them and how special they are to you. Let them know that they don't have to be rich, handsome/beautiful or successful because those are the world's standards. In your world it is the intangible things that matter like love of self and others, respect, loyalty, honesty and faith.

I love you, Father. I worship and praise you. Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for supplying my earthly needs of food, clothing, and shelter. Thank you for loving me the times I failed. Thank you for holding me the times my heart was broken and for picking up the pieces when my world fell apart and I hit bottom. Father, you guide me and give me the inspirational words to write down. Let these words reach out to others and comfort them.

Love from your humble servant,
CY' AILEEN