I wrote about my trip to NYC in August 2001 HERE. Well, on that same trip, my girlfriend and I wandered with our sons around the city, stopping wherever we felt the whim. As you can imagine, with 2 ten year old boys, we spent quite a bit of time in FAO Schwartz!
One of the places we went was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. My friend was a good Catholic girl, and I was certainly interested in seeing for myself the place I’d watched on TV for so many weddings and funerals of famous people.
Anyway, while we were at the cathedral, my girlfriend answered any questions my son or I had. He asked what all the candles were for, and she explained that people lit a candle as they prayed for someone. At this time, in August 2001, my son asked if he could please light a candle. I thought he just wanted to play with the fire! But he finally told us why he wanted to do it. He said he had an uncle who was very ill (my brother) and he wanted to say a special prayer so God would make him better. OK, so you can imagine I’m crying now, and there’s no way he’s not going to light a candle, I don’t care if he’s catholic or not, or if I have the suggested donation to put in the box or not. So as my girlfriend, her son, and I looked on, all quietly praying ourselves, my son lit a candle for his uncle, and prayed that God would make him better.
Anyway, while we were at the cathedral, my girlfriend answered any questions my son or I had. He asked what all the candles were for, and she explained that people lit a candle as they prayed for someone. At this time, in August 2001, my son asked if he could please light a candle. I thought he just wanted to play with the fire! But he finally told us why he wanted to do it. He said he had an uncle who was very ill (my brother) and he wanted to say a special prayer so God would make him better. OK, so you can imagine I’m crying now, and there’s no way he’s not going to light a candle, I don’t care if he’s catholic or not, or if I have the suggested donation to put in the box or not. So as my girlfriend, her son, and I looked on, all quietly praying ourselves, my son lit a candle for his uncle, and prayed that God would make him better.
Apparently the prayers of a 10 year old boy availeth much, because my brother is remarkably improved and doing very well, all things considered. There is no full healing for what is wrong with him, but he has stabilized and he is almost completely well.
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"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
ReplyDeleteThe old boy knew a thing or two besides rhyming couplets.