The Power of Prayer
My friend, June, has had an array of health ailments including being terminally diagnosed with cancer (recovered), heart disease, and spinal fractures. I recently had asked for prayers for her brain surgery. During our church service at St. Thomas , Reverend Harris asked June and her family to come forward and, he, with several members of the congregation, held her while we prayed for and with her. We prayed for June in a touching, traditional laying on of hands way.
We had already learned that another lady parishioner, who was also suffering brain cancer, had passed away the week before. At the Sunday service last week Reverend Harris explained that the surgeons were immensely surprised because the tumor had folded around part of the lobe but, was not intrusive, so they were able to remove 98% of it.
After our heartfelt church service, I told June that I would ask everyone I knew, especially my friends overseas and locally, to pray for her surgery and recovery from brain cancer. She already knew everyone in both the St. Thomas parish and the St. Peter’s parish were praying for her. June was also told that everyone at the Society for the Cure of Souls would be praying for her in the United States. Allan Bell at St. Peter's said he would enter June on the international prayer list. Jo-Ann Axton entered her on the Mormon's Temple special daily prayer list in La Jolla, California. Drs. Ron and Pauline Fitzgerald asked their local Catholic Legion of Mary to pray for June as well. Additionally, I said I would pray for her every hour on the hour using my talking alarm wristwatch. I did so until Thursday, mistakenly thinking her precarious surgery was then instead of Tuesday.
In some scientific/psychology circles prayer is not validated in healing and considered unreal like a placebo or the power of suggestion. Additionally, prayer does not make a difference to reported unexpected results. In June's case the question of her faith and hope together with that of everyone praying for her is definitely real. June's not out of the woods yet, but, in reality, is medically much better thanks to all of her friends and family praying for her during this time.
I sincerely thank you for all of your prayers for June.
Never underestimate the power of prayer!
Brian
