Reblog — Teen suicide: prayer that helps

Teen suicide: prayer that helps

By Judith Hardy Olson (via CSMonitor.com)

…The suicides of two of my friends’ teenage sons were a wake-up call to me. Comforting and consoling parents and schoolmates wasn’t enough for me. Deep in my soul I prayed, “Father, how can I best help troubled teens know that they’re needed?” I listened. What came was a sweet, strong assurance that Life and Love are inseparable, for God is both. Pondering Love as the only creator, I reasoned then that our entire being has to be (and is) just as lovely and loving as God is. God’s promise in the Bible that because we’re precious to Him we’re honorable and He loves us (see Isaiah 43:4) came alive to me. It said to me that each of us is because we’re precious. Why, of course. A God who is Love couldn’t, wouldn’t, create a single idea that’s not purposeful, precious, needed, wanted… Read more

Restoring relationships

Recent news reports involving a shooting say that there isn’t enough evidence to determine what actually happened or a satisfactory verdict. Even though the human justice system may not be able to bring about a satisfactory result, I pray with this statement and know there is another kind of justice system always working within us that does not have the limitation of human laws:

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24

There is such heartfelt humility in this passage admitting that perhaps there is some hidden evil in thought and desiring to be completely free from it through God’s redeeming grace.

God, divine Love, knows all of our thoughts and motives. God is pure Love itself, immortal being and eternal Life, which doesn’t include any darkness. So, as we draw nearer to God, Spirit, the darkness in our thoughts and hearts disappears — just as the darkness disappears when you turn on the light in a room.

Beloved children, the world has need of you, — and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world. What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind! —Mary Baker Eddy 

The light in each of us is shining in the world. We all have innocence, pure affection and the healing power of grace within us to transform past hurts and restore right relationships.

Just as a baby is incapable of prejudice because he shines spiritual joy and love towards others, we can bring that same pure, fresh light — childlikeness and grace — to our relationships (including family members, neighbors, and community members) and restore them.

I was always there

Sometimes finding a solution to a problem can take a while. It may require patience, persistent prayer and not giving up.

But God is right here guiding us; He always been and always will be. Sometimes we don’t see it until later. It reminds me of the scene with Humpty Dumpty in the movie Puss in Boots — except not in a creepy way, but in a good way!

http://bit.ly/15Tsh1m

Praying about global issues today (hungry children, young girls living on the streets and environmental issues) showed me that God is embracing each one of these dear people and is eradicating these troublesome issues. God’s will for each one is peace, harmony and perfection.

“Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation.” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, p.332)

“Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? …. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11 NRSV)

Yes, seeing the complete resolution of these issues may take some time. But prayer does make a difference, and as we each open our thought to seeing results from our prayers, we will experience blessings that make a difference every day.