May 18, 2009

• I Taught My Friend To Pray

  My friend Aileen was paired with me on a blind date; we were both adapting to life in Kansas after Virginia, and my neighbor knew her neighbor, and suggested we meet.  So Aileen was carted by her parents to one of my basketball games in the sixth grade.  Is that her I imagine her asking, disappointed with the goggle-glasses who can’t even make a basket?  We later went on a pizza date and had a sleepover.  Needless to say, we became best friends.

  One night as we laid on my bed (the overhead light glaring down upon us; Aileen was afraid of the dark) I began whispering my nightly prayers.  She heard me and asked what I was doing.  Praying I told her.  She was confused and asked me to pray louder.  This continued every time I saw her; pray she would ask me, and I did.  Finally, Aileen caught on that some prayers were personally mine, such as prayers of intercession, while others, like the Hail Mary, were repeated.  She began to pray with me; stumbling over the difficult phrases until I corrected her.  I later taught her the Our Father, Guardian Angel, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Glory Be, Apostles’ Creed, and Act of Contrition.  Now, she prays more than I do.  Within the past few years, she has been working towards becoming baptized.

  Recently, she spoke with me about it.  She hugged me and told me two words.

  Thank you.

   

  M

   

  • 4:31 pm
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