Special Delivery: Answered Prayers

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2008, 119, 120).

I first heard this quote in December from my visiting teacher.  (Visiting teaching is a program in my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where the woman befriend and help one another through monthly visits and spiritual messages.)  Along with the quote she shared a beautiful story about a woman that had been an answer to prayer for her.  I don't have permission to share her story, it is one of those personal things you don't share publically.  However, I read a wonderful representation of this quote in another blog.  May I direct you to StorytellERDoc.  While you are there, read a few other of his posts...have some tissue ready...his posts are guaranteed to make you laugh or cry.

Another example of someone whose life is an answer to other people's prayers is Morrie Schwartz.  Like Gigi, I don't know him personally, but I read about him and was inspired through "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom.  [Am I the last person on the planet to read, "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom? It has sold over 14 million copies and been translated into 41 languages.]

Because it is such a popular book, I won't take the time to give you full review here.  I just want to say that I was so inspired by it.  It touched me first because parts of it were an affirmation of things I already knew, but it was nice to hear it from someone else.  Other parts of it were new, and some of it was just soul to soul touching wonderful. 

I have to take a moment to talk about Mitch Albom. He is the writer I want to be when I grow up.  His writing has a wonderful balance of being thought provoking and uplifting without being overly sweet or unrealistic.  Admittedly, this is what I strive for in my own writing, though Mitch is better at it than I am.  Besides Tuesdays With Morrie, I have also read his books For One More Day, and Five People You Meet In Heaven. I love and recommend them all.  Have a Little Faith is next on my list, but first I have to read Tuesdays With Morrie again!

So there you have it.  With Gigi and Morrie as my guides, my goal this year, this life is to be an answer to other people's prayers.