my MIL happened to call on sunday, so i told her that i had been sick, stayed in the hospital blah blah. it wasn't a big enough deal for us to call & get them worked up a zillion states away.
she was on her way to church when she was calling, just wanted to chat for a minute. she was quick to say, "oh i'll let you go back to sleep" (because she did wake me up--i answered without looking), and then hung up.
fast forward to monday, i talked to her again, and she said, "ohhhh i'm so glad you're feeling better! our whole church knows you by name. we're all praying for you."
i get it. i understand she is worried, and i appreciate it. but it wasn't a big deal. i was fine. i was home. nothing is wrong. and she didn't ask. i am a private person when it comes to that stuff--i would just prefer to be left private unless something becomes a huge predicament. no need to alert the prain chains over a stomach bug, kwim?
Re: how do you feel about this (re: prayer requests & church)
Is she type to do it for attention or was it 100% completely sincere?
I would not have wanted her to do that either. But I probably wouldn't say anything now that it's done.
100% sincere. i still find it weird i guess.
This made me LOL. Yeah, it's aggravate me too. But really pretty much anything my MIL does aggravates me so it'd make me mad. At this point, I'd let it go and censor anything you say to her that you don't want her whole church to know.
This.
I think sincere prayer is a real gift.
It's the phony stuff that makes me gag.
This! Who cares? Not sure why it would bug you considering they don't even know you.
I think that I would just be flattered that she was that worried. Yes, now a bunch of strangers know your business, but they are states away and there is little chance that you will see them/have to converse with them.
I know it's hard to feel comfortable with being a prayer request (especially if you are not into church and God... which I don't know if you are), but most people who request prayers be said for someone they know sincerely care and just want you to be healthy and happy.
I guess it would depend on the person and their motives. I'm a private person too- so I totally get where you are coming from. However, if my mom did this, I'd know it was out of genuine love and concern so I wouldn't mind.
Who knows..maybe they worked?
I agree that if she is being sincere, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. My aunt is very involved with her church and is forever sending out prayer requests via email for her friends and their families (with permission) and I don't think anything of it. I put them in my prayers and go on my way.
DD#1~8/17/96------DS~10/24/05
Hmmm...if you were fine, I think it's a bit overboard, but maybe it was something that she felt she could do?
We're Catholic, and all churches take prayer requests, where during the prayers of the faithful, names will be announced, and listed in the weekly bulletin. On top of this, you could choose to have a mass card sent to the person.
One of my DH's very best friends just went through his 2nd liver transplant back in Jan. We had visited them in November, and it was not looking good. My DH is not a negative person and was convinced that would be the last time he saw his friend alive. I had a mass said to him, even though they are not Catholic...even had the card sent to him. The way I saw it was that it is my religion so that's how I would pray, and what I could do for someone, etc.
Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have done that. I think he appreciated it but they could have just been saying that.
I don't know...I think if the situation warrants it, it's ok, but for just being sick...that's not really what it's meant for.
Emily 8.8.08
Madeline 1.2.11
William 8.5.12