Praying...

The Apostle Paul said to pray without ceasing. When I was a teenager this thought struck me as insane. How could one live and function doing absolutely nothing but praying. Absolute absurdity.
Over the last weeks I have been bombarded with prayer requests from friends and family. From sick fathers and brothers, funerals, military deployment, starting college, lost co-workers and everything in between. These are not trivial things to take lightly. They are earnest requests from ones I love. Today is my mom's birthday and I am reminded that not so long ago I was the one requesting these prayers from my friends for her. My friends rallied and prayed until God gave her the ultimate healing, and then continued to pray for me. God's presence was ever there and I could feel all of the prayers being lifted up around me.
Today my only question is how can one live and function without praying constantly? This open full communication with a loving Father is not only a line for making requests like a letter to Santa, but a true source of comfort and strength no matter what the situation is. Like every good parent the answer is not always yes. Sometimes it is a flat no becasue we ask for things that despite our own resoning are not in our best interests. Sometimes the answer is not yet, and sometimes the answer comes in a way we never anticipated.
Prayer is the ultimate both of faith between us and our Heavenly Father. It is like the diaries we kept hidden under the mattress in 6th grade. A full disclosure of your heart to one who loves you like no other could.
Today I am praying more than ever and I hope you will include me in yours as well.