Prayer for grandmothers

Father, Samuel's words have stayed with me in this kitchen this morning. He said it would be a sin to stop praying for God's people. I know that sin. I have let names slip off my list. Not on purpose. Just by drift. Just by slow forgetting. The names that should be on my lips when I wake up are not always there. I am not angry at myself. I am just honest. Some names I stopped praying because I was afraid. Afraid the hurt would go on too long. Afraid nothing would change. Some names I stopped praying because I quietly gave up. I will not make excuses. Samuel did not soften the word, and I will not either. It was a sin to stop. So I am starting again. I name them quietly now, one by one. I put the list back into Your hands, where it should have stayed all along. Amen.