Prayers

How can I pray for you? she asks us.

And how can we pray for you, I ask.

We ask for prayers for those who are working so hard,

we ask for discernment,

and patience,

and grace,

for ourselves and others.

Someone texts back,

a heartfelt prayer,

may we have what we need,

guidance,

and patience,

and grace.

I did not grow up in their kinds of churches,

ones with prayers and prayer requests,

ones with Bible verses.

I did grow up in their kinds of churches,

with people who cared for me and loved me.

I have not before had a group who asked,

casually,

easily,

sincerely,

how can I pray for you?

And I know that whatever I ask for, they will pray for,

heartfelt and sincere.

We share wine and secrets and gossip,

grief and shame and worry,

and we pray.