Reflection on Prayer

My mom and dad fell in love through letter writing. Both were in their mid-thirties, neither one dating or ever married before, when my dad's niece, Mona, played matchmaker and exchanged their addresses. At the time, my mom was working in Milwaukee with Mona, while my dad was dairy farming in central Wisconsin.  Mona saw my mothers love of horses and my fathers love of farming, and recognized, rightly so, the potential compliment.  Long story short (I really could write a book about it) my mom took to pen and paper first and what followed was a year long string of letters that lead to engagement, marriage, and well, me.  Fortunately for me, they saved all their letters in an album upstairs in our farmhouse and have kept them open for reading. The window into their courtship, really the foundation of their friendship and our family unit, is something I cherish. One of my favorite letters in their correspondence is one my dad wrote to my mom where he includes the following poem, encouraging her. To this day, it encourages me. 
 
Prayers Can't Be Answered Unless They Are Prayed

​Life without purpose
is barren indeed,
there can't be a harvest
unless you plant seed.

There can't be attainment
unless there's a goal,
and man's but a robot
unless there's a soul.

If we send no ships out,
no ships will come in,
and unless there's a contest,
nobody can win.

For games can't be won
unless they are played,
and prayers can't be answered
unless they are prayed.

Not just for pleasure,
enjoyment or health,
not just for honors
and prestige and wealth.

But pray for a purpose
to make life worth living,
and pray for the joy
of unselfish giving.

For great is your gladness
and rich your reward,
when you make your life's purpose
the choice of the Lord.

~Helen Steiner Rice~