THE POWER OF PRAYER DOES WORK !

I am not a God fearing man…I prefer to call myself a God loving man. My beliefs are built by life experiences…….. not by religious dogma.

Nearly 25 years ago, my son Joseph at the age of 2 ½ years old, was diagnosed with Burketts Lymphoma. About three days later, after conducting multiple tests, the cancer doctors at The Childrens Hospital gave Joes’ mom and me the news.

Due to the type of cancer, inoperablility, and the stage, the experts informed us that Joe had a five percent chance of survival. A few minutes later the doctor took me aside and privately suggested I may consider preparing my family for the inevitable, or to designate a family member to handle such matters.

In less than a second our world was destroyed.

Michelle began to pray, my family prayed, my friends prayed, church groups prayed, and every church Mass in the entire town kept Joseph in their prayers.

I prepared for the worst.

The long and short of it is …….. Joe is now approaching his twenty sixth birthday, and wonderfully aggravates me daily.

Prayer does work. I shall never discount the power of collective thought, in the form of a simple prayer. As we mourn this tragic event, keep the hundreds of victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in your thoughts. You help in the healing process. 

On this morning, as most, I start my day with a small prayer. And I ask everyone to take a few seconds everyday to send strength to those families affected. Remember the victims and their families who now have a difficult lifetime road ahead. They need our thoughts of healing through our prayers.

This was my prayer today.  

To our Almighty Father, who guides us in every aspect of our eternal life, let us pray ….for each of our brothers and sisters who have been taken from this world into your loving arms to be protected from any further physical harm.

We pray and remember, Martin Richard, only 8 years old, to be forever young in our minds and hearts. We pray for his soul, and the entire family who need our continued prayers, and strength, to endure the pain of devastation from injuries sustained by his sister, mother, and give strenght to the dad.

For Lu Lingzi, a beautiful 23 year old student of mathematics, graduate of Boston University, the only child according to China laws on single child rule, who loved blueberry waffles, ice cream, and Godiva dark chocolate. May her family have the gift of healing each passing day.

For Krystle Campbell, a 29 year old from Medford, who loved to work her job as a manager of an Arlington restaurant, who loved her dogs, and loved to live life. Whose parents Bill, and Patty suffered believing their daughter was spared only to later discover it was a mistaken identity.

For Sean Collier, a young MIT police officer brutally murdered, who loved his work. Sean, described by fellow officers as a natural law enforcement officer who enjoyed helping people and pursued a dream to continue in his career eventually as a Somerville Police Officer, may we never forget him in our thoughts and prayers.

To the many injured, or traumatized, whose lives shall be changed forever…..let them find strength, healing, understanding, and peace. 

These are their names. Each one of the fatally injured remind us of our own children....and for the grace of God were not!

They remain in our minds, hearts, and daily prayers as we continue our endeavors.

Together we must continue to help work for change in this world we share, to bring light….. where there is darkness, to bring hope…… where there is none.

Let us pray, as we resume our collective efforts to do our part in Gods’ plan.

Amen

Respectfully submitted by Paul Maisano