The Prayer Pot

[Volusianator]

With the tough economic times and layoff right now, I just wanted to share this little piece of our family tradition with y'all.

Years ago my son made a ceramic pot in grade school. It's a nice little green pot with a lid, about the size of a cantaloupe.

When the time comes when we feel that something is happening that needs continued attention or support, all family members can do one of two things.
1) You can write a note for a prayer and let everyone know, then place it in the prayer pot.
2) You can write a private note that nobody knows about and put it in the prayer pot.

We say prayers before each meal and at bedtime and at the end, we always include, "and all the prayers in the prayer pot." That way, if we have a public or private prayer, it's prayed for several times a day by our family. When the pot is full, we take all the prayers and burn them in the fire pit, sending the smoke to the heavens for one last ditch effort to have our prayers heard.

You too can make your own prayer pot, it can be a coffee can, current pot you have at home, buy a new pot just for that reason or whatever. I just thought I'd share this little bit of tradition from our family during this holiday season when times are so tough on so many.

Happy Holidays,
Wade, Linda, Amie, Daniel, Ian, Taran & Sara

 

[indyrob]

That's a great idea Wade.

I would like to start that too. My kids are going through that identity crisis and I think it could show them that we are still a family and we are always there for support.

 

[Volusianator]

Agreed Rob. Linda and I will often put in someone that we don't know, but saw a story on the news. It's made the kids understand also that it's just not us or family, but even people who really don't affect us that need help too.

 

[jwintosh]

Amen!!

 

[Boppa-Wasch]

Great idea!!!

 

[CWS]

Wonderful idea Wade.

 

[uncelnino]

Awesome idea and family tradition Wade. We never did anything as cool as that, but every year we (my mom) would bake a cake with a nativity scene decoration that was known as Jesus' Birthday Cake. We would take it to the family or person that was most special to us that year and take the time to sit and explain to them why they are so special to us. A lot of my best Christmas memories involve this tradition.

 

[Swampfox21]

Awsome idea wade!!! Uncelnino thats really cool too!!!

 

[CWS]

Awesome idea and family tradition Wade. We never did anything as cool as that, but every year we (my mom) would bake a cake with a nativity scene decoration that was known as Jesus' Birthday Cake. We would take it to the family or person that was most special to us that year and take the time to sit and explain to them why they are so special to us. A lot of my best Christmas memories involve this tradition.

That is really cool as well.

 

[Angry Bill]

I took it one step farther yesterday. There was an article in the Los Angeles Times yesterday about a woman and daughter who live in their car. The daughter has cancer and is in treatment. In the article, there was info where they stay so we went down there with food, clothing and a few xmas gifts yesterday before we went to a party. I had a little info for shelter so they would have a place to stay for the holidays, but they refused. They began crying from the gifts and at first refused, but took them. We were not alone, people were coming to give them money too, as well as a job offer when we were there.

It made me feel sad that someone was in this situation and would not accept complete help, but it also made me happy to help someone out that truly needed a hand. The $200 we spent doing this was priceless in my book. Remember Kerry and Destiny Kimmel in your prayers this holdiay. I know we will. Actually gave my church the info to help this family.

BTW, here is the article

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-lopez21-2008dec21,0,2928310,full.column

 

[jmatkins]

Nice idea Wade!

 

[rick12string]

Wade,
You had mentioned the prayer pot once before and inspired us to make one of our own. If my memory serves me correctly (which is rare these days, lol) I believe it was around the start of the “Summer of Wade”.
My wife and kids made one after I told them about your post. You and you family were the first to go into the pot which I felt was appropriate. Thanks again for the wonderful idea.
Rick

 

[rick12string]

I took it one step farther yesterday. There was an article in the Los Angeles Times yesterday about a woman and daughter who live in their car. The daughter has cancer and is in treatment. In the article, there was info where they stay so we went down there with food, clothing and a few xmas gifts yesterday before we went to a party. I had a little info for shelter so they would have a place to stay for the holidays, but they refused. They began crying from the gifts and at first refused, but took them. We were not alone, people were coming to give them money too, as well as a job offer when we were there.

It made me feel sad that someone was in this situation and would not accept complete help, but it also made me happy to help someone out that truly needed a hand. The $200 we spent doing this was priceless in my book. Remember Kerry and Destiny Kimmel in your prayers this holdiay. I know we will. Actually gave my church the info to help this family.

BTW, here is the article

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-lopez21-2008dec21,0,2928310,full.column

Very nice act of kindness Bill.

 

[bballbaby]

I love it Wade!

 

[Volusianator]

You and you family were the first to go into the pot which I felt was appropriate. Thanks again for the wonderful idea.
Rick

No, thank you very much for putting us in your pot!

 

[rick12string]

No, thank you very much for putting us in your pot!

Your post gave us another way to send out prayers to a fine brother and many others.
Now if I can only get them to build me a humidor like yours! lol

 

[Cigary43]

Very cool thing to do,,,nothing inspires your kids to emulate what you believe in than to put it into pratice. You are doing more for your kids than you know,,,it is thru these actions that your kids will grow up to instill in theirs. A preacher once said that what you put into pratice goes into the blood of those you raise and I believe that. Good for you, Wade!! You are providing a legacy for your family and children.

 

[Volusianator]

Well the prayer pot ain't been working for me, I've not yet found a job or 25 boxes of Opus on my doorstep!

 

[gbpacker66]

Well the prayer pot ain't been working for me, I've not yet found a job or 25 boxes of Opus on my doorstep!

Wade,what a great tradition to start.

By the way, I signed for those 25 boxes of Opus when I was at your house last week. Amazingly enough, I have no ideal where they went.:dunno::dunno:

 

[Cigary43]

Well the prayer pot ain't been working for me, I've not yet found a job or 25 boxes of Opus on my doorstep!

One thing you will learn about prayer,,,it's not always on our time table. When we look above for things that we have needs for it is with that stipulation that we learn patience and let things work themselves out,,,pretty much the same things we teach our kids. Just because you want something doesn't mean you get it right away,,,there is an evolution to how things work out and the more faith you have the more things seem to work out,,,and they will for you, too.

As far as the Opus on your doorstep,,,,I got nothing sage to tell you about that,,,I've been wishing for that for 10 years and so far,,,nada.