Pray it forward.

That’s a new take on an old theme.  We’ve all heard “pay” it forward, a wonderful way to take the good you’ve received and keep it moving on and out through deeds of kindness.  Pray it forward is simply building on that theme.  Add a special prayer to your actions to keep the good alive and well as it makes its way into the world.  Bless it with wings of healing that its good may grow and its worth blossom.  And know that your fellow doers are encouraged and benefited to keep this sweet, strong prayer going.

This is our gift to each other – regardless of who each of us is.  Does it matter?  To bless one another through prayer is the highest gift we can give and the dearest way to love our neighbors – both local and global – as ourselves.  And to know that hungry hearts are fed, and the poor in spirit lifted, gives our prayers special impetus where the need is greatest.

It doesn’t take much more to follow-up your helping gestures with a happy prayer.  Nor would it be unusual to hope that the good done to you was prayerfully forwarded, as well.

And when it feels as though there is nothing else to do or give, that is when our prayers are most needed.  Gentle arms of prayer-filled care can wipe away the hardest knocks and the deepest sorrow.

Keep it going, pray it forward.  It will only bless you.  And then, do it again.

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.