I'm praying for....!

[Stuckinthebush]

6. I don't disagree with you

I do think that expressions of sympathy to friends or family members is one thing. As in, "Mary, I'm praying for Bobby and hope that the cancer doesn't return."

But publically expression prayers for someone you do not know nor do your friends know is an oddity to me. "I'm praying for that lady in Chicago who has a missing daughter!" That's the kind of public expression of praying that is baffling to me. To what end are you proclaiming this? Just pray. Unless it is a sly way to encourage others to pray for that lady in Chicago I don't understand the motivation to express that this act was undertaken.

I certainly would never lecture anyone about their praying habits in the former (nor the latter either), but I'm curious about the motivation to proclaim that one is praying for someone that is far removed from their lives.

Of course, it could be the act of prayer IS the public expression. These individuals don't really get on their knees and pray but by simply saying "I'm praying for..." they are, in effect, praying.