Pray

Introduction:
I submit photos to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their own personal photo gallery to be used in anything needed by the Church.

There is no monetary compensation.  Photographers who submit to the Church rarely receive credit for the work when it's used.  And often don't even get a notice that the photo is being included in some project.  It's simply a labor of love and devotion for all of us who have found purpose in adding our work to this collection.

Every couple of weeks or so, a challenge is put out to members to submit photos by specific themes.  With family, work, home, and Church obligations I don't have a lot of extra time floating around my days so I basically don't complete the challenges.  If photos come up in the course of daily living that I think will work for the Church, I just send them in.

At the beginning of June, however, a challenge was issued to submit photos that showed various aspects of prayer.  For some reason, this challenge spoke to me.  It called out for me to do what I could to participate.  I asked for volunteers on Facebook and had a few families come forward, so I rolled up my sleeves and started taking pictures.  

Following is a collection of my favorites from the challenge, with a little discussion about prayer included.   It's been a fun project to work on, and I love and cherish each new friend I made along the way.  I hope you enjoy it and find inspiration, as did I, in the sweet simplicity of a prayer from the heart.
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PRAY...
With open hearts and simplicity,
We kneel at our mother's knee
And learn the language
of Prayer

Even before we learn the language of life,
It flows through our being

And becomes who we are.

PRAY...
The art of all learning
Comes first in the form of imitation

  

through the child heart

And into the arms of a child world.

And patterns and rituals
weaving a tapestry of faith
from our early years

Take on personal meaning 

as innocent hearts awaken to accountability

 

PRAY...

When answers you thought you knew

Scatter 

and leave you wondering,

 

And questions you had

leave you hollow

and wandering,

Return

to the tapestry,

the woven threads of faith 

and pray...

In the quiet places, commune 
 










One on one in your hour of need

Speak.

 




Take pause,
To join voice with loved ones
in petition
sweet.

And know He has never left you
 














Even when the hour is at its darkest ...

He is there,
waiting.

Just speak.

PRAY...
Weave your threads
day by day,
year by year,

in joy and in sorrow,

Just pray

And He will guide you
and comfort and strengthen you.

Just

Pray.