These were made for my friends Dustina and John Masson. You can read about their story at JohnMasson.com
For Dustina
For John
This beautiful prayer was made by my friend, Shelley Prater.
This one was made by my friend, Tina.
This one was made for Angie. I’d promised it months ago and honestly just didn’t get around to it. The weekend frenzy of art I experienced a little bit ago, though, proved to be a “catch up” weekend. I let it dry, packaged it up and sent it.
Then I found out her birthday was coming up. It would’ve been nice to have signed it “Happy Birthday” on the back. But no.
Angie’s name popped up on my phone and I answered expecting a jubilant conversation. But Angie had just went through one of her worst days in a very long time.
Her prayer was waiting for her at home.
And this is why I don’t believe in coincidence.
This prayer was prayed for a beautiful friend of mine. She received it in the mail, so I can post the picture of it now.
My cousin, Jen, and I were pretty close growing up. I like to think we’re still close even though we don’t see each other near as much as we’d like. Her daughter was baptized last weekend and I wanted to do something special, something meaningful. I decided on a visual prayer.
On the surface, it’s a prayer for a special little girl who is loved. Buried beneath the surface, though, is meaning deeper than the general public could understand.
Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
Even when people I love commit suicide
I Still Believe.
I’ve never felt so torn before
Seems I don’t know where to start
Even when best friends die of breast cancer
I Still Believe.
But its now I feel your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain
When grandmas find their youngest sons, dead by their own hand…when those grandmas slip into dementia and mini-strokes overtake them, even when special grandmas die
I Still Believe.
Though the questions still fog up my mind
With promises I still seem to bear
When moms have brain tumors and lymphoma and when prognosis looks good and things are hopeful hopeful. Even then, when she dies anyway
I Still Believe.
Even when answers slowly unwind
It’s my heart I see you prepare
When friends…people who call themselves friends, kick me while I’m down and knowingly inflict unbearable pain
I Still Believe.
But its now that I feel your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain
When I run away from home because I’m too pissed off to be around “friends”
I Still Believe.
The only place I can go is into your arms
Where I throw to you my feeble prayers
When You say in no uncertain terms, “Go back to your friend. Put up with her abuse.” I understand you are Jehovah Roi, the God Who Sees Me
I Still Believe.
In brokenness I can see that this is your will for me
Help me to know you are near
When I submit to Your authority and go back–and I hit a fawn still new with spots and it flies in the air and smashes down on the top of my car and I see it hit the road in the rearview mirror. Even when I see it’s mama right behind it. Even when the pain is too great to bear and I can’t see through my tears
I Still Believe.
I still believe in your faithfulness
I still believe in your truth
I still believe in Your Holy Word
Even when I don’t see
I Still Believe.
