Conversations and Violets

                            Conversations and Violets
Dear Friends,
     Not long ago someone asked me what my thoughts were about prayer.
     I keep thinking about that conversation and I realize that when someone asks me for prayer it's one of the most special things to have someone ask. It is an honor to be asked to pray for someone. Praying for someone else takes you into the other person's situation and the focus off of  yourself. God meets with me when I lift the needs of others up to Him. Prayer is a conversation with Jesus. Sharing and listening in His presence.
    When I visited a friend who lived in a different state she shared some flower plants from her yard with me. She had violets popping up on the edge of the yard and under a big tree. The little purple blooms and heart shaped leaves were so pretty, so simple and delicate.When I got home I planted them along the walkway in the front yard where they made a nice border  and along the fence in the back yard. They soon filled in the areas around them and I had extra violets  to share with friends.
    Violets are like prayers in some ways. When you give them away they are blessings and they grow, dropping seeds,  filling the empty, desolate  place in your heart that was meant for prayers. Violets can pop up in unexpected places like in the cracks between rocks or in the dark, shady area under the ferns. Prayers bring a brightness into a hurting heart like the  tiny bits of color of the violets can light up a dim, wooded forest. Simple prayers that are from your heart will bring light to any situation.
    A  friend from out of state called with a request for prayer while I was writing this. At first I was surprised that I would get a call for prayer at this time. Then I thought that it really isn't surprising. God does  things that confirm to us that He is here and desires conversation with us.  I shared with my friend what I was writing about and she said some of the same things that I have written here. It's an honor to have someone trust you enough to ask for prayers and it's a privilege to have conversations with our God who loves us.
John 16:24
"....Ask, using my name, and you will receive , and you will have abundant joy."
1 Timothy 2:1
"I urge you, first of all to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them."