I was having breakfast with a brother this morning, and he was telling me about his family. He tells me he rarely sees his mother anymore. She’s got her struggles, he added, and then he said, "I haven’t seen her much for a couple years." It’s pretty sad because his mom lives right in this area.
Given that nearly everyone I know seems to have a story or two like that, I have a little holiday prayer exercise for you to practice during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. When you pray for someone you don’t really like, or someone you’re worried about, or someone with whom you really want improved relationships, try and picture them as you want them to be when they are at their very best. Look at the angel in this picture here, for example. Try to imagine what this angel could be. That’s the idea behind this prayer exercise.
Think of someone right now. A parent, a spouse, a child, an employer, a fellow church member. Something has happened that has frayed your relationship, and you so badly want it to get better. Some of us have people in our lives that we should be close to that we can barely say hello to. Who wants to live like that?
Here’s the deal. Start praying for your person, but as you pray imagine that man or woman as you want him or her to be. I bet you can remember a time when this person was filled with joy. Do you remember what they were wearing that day? Can you picture their happy face?
I’m thinking of someone myself. I can see his smile. His blue eyes are beaming. He’s attired in a beautiful white shirt. He’s relaxed and happy. While I’m praying for him, that’s what I’m picturing.
Now you try it. Try it with someone you will encounter during the holidays. Don’t live in dread, brothers. Instead, picture that person as happy, joyful and laughing. Pray for that brother or sister as you want him or her to be!
I’ll tell you brothers, that’s treating people the way you want to be treated. Or, in this case, that’s praying for people the way you want to be prayed for.
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