The Prayer Shawl

I am blessed to be asked to speak to groups of women.
Often, I will speak to groups of young mothers.
Others times, I have spoken to groups of women of various ages.
It is always a humble privilege.

Being asked to speak is one thing.
Feeling adequate to speak is another.
I can never speak in my own strength.
I need God’s help, His words, and His heart if I am to speak to any group of women.

Those times have been wrapped in prayer.
Prayer to discern the appropriate topic and Biblical truth.
Prayer to know the words that God would have me say.
Prayer for my heart to be humble and for the hearts of the women to be open to the Truth.

Not too long ago I was asked to speak to a widow’s group.
The women meet monthly and occasionally invite a speaker.
It was a delight to meet them.
It was a pleasure to speak to them and with them.

When the morning was over, one of them gave me a prayer shawl.
A dear friend from high school goes to that particular church.
She told the women who knitted the shawls our high school colors.
A woman made the shawl for me in the colors I remember so well: red and blue.

I was touched by the gift and the lovely note that was attached.
I folded the prayer shawl carefully and kept it in the closet with all of my scarves.
Every time I reached for a scarf, I would see the prayer shawl and remember the sweet women.
There was not a day that went by that I did not think of them.

I have a favorite chair in our family room.
There is always a stack of books on the table next to my chair.
There is also a lap desk next to the chair ready to use.
It is a cozy spot next to our fireplace.

I noticed this winter there was a draft that seemed to be coming from the bridge above.
The bridge connects our bedroom to the rest of the upstairs rooms.
The bridge looks down over our family room.
The draft seemed to come right over my shoulders.

I have a cozy down blanket that I use on the coldest days.
However, that is too bulky to put around my shoulders while I sit on the chair.
One night as I sat there reading, I remembered the prayer shawl.
The prayer shawl that was made for me in my high school colors.

I ran upstairs to get it out of my closet.
I brought it downstairs and wrapped it around my shoulders.
It was perfect.
The draft could no longer be felt; I was warm and cozy.

I sent my friend and text and told her how I was using the prayer shawl.
I told her how much it means to me.
I told her it makes me feel close to the sweet woman who made it for me.
My chair, my stack of books, my lap desk, and my prayer shawl beckon me to sit and be still.

Stillness is not something we practice.
We fill our calendars to capacity.
We fail to realize that the white space on the calendar is necessary and welcome.
That white space is an invitation to stillness.

It is in the stillness that God speaks.
It is in our busyness that we fail to hear Him.
It is in the stillness that we practice listening prayer.
It is in the busyness that we talk far too much.

As I sat with my prayer shawl around my shoulders, I remembered.
I sent my children to school with a handmade prayer shawl of sorts.
If it was a hard day or if they had a difficult test, I would send them to school with an item.
It was something they could keep in their pocket as a reminder.

I took a small square of Saran Wrap and folded it into an even smaller square.
I would give them the square to keep in their pocket.
Now whenever you need to, put your hand into your pocket and touch the square.
That is your prayer square; it will remind you that I am praying for you.

It was a tangible object to let them know that they were wrapped in prayer.
They knew that I prayed for them each day.
However this little piece of Saran Wrap was an object they could touch.
It was a quiet reminder to be still and know that they were covered in prayer.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

Wrapped in prayer so that they may know Him better.
Wrapped in prayer so that the eyes of their heart may be enlightened.
Wrapped in prayer so that they may know the hope to which He has called them.
Wrapped in prayer.

A prayer shawl or a prayer square is a lovely gift to give someone.
It is a visible object that encourages stillness.
It is a visible object that serves as a reminder that someone is praying for you.
It can be touched and felt as it wraps and envelops.

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.

Contemplative prayer.
Listening prayer.
Stillness.
Selah.

2 responses to “The Prayer Shawl”

1. Stillness is priceless. Stillness takes effort . . . Thank you for reminding me how rewarding it is!

   Reply

   • Cathy,
     Stillness is something we all need to practice. We do not know how to rest well. We equate success with busyness. God’s Word is always counter cultural, but God’s Word is always right.
     Regina

     Reply