Comfort Prayers: Prayers and Poems to Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire - Hardcover

Cotner, June

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0740746855 ISBN 13: 9780740746857

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2004

Synopsis

Thy fate is the most common fate of all. Into each life some rain must fall." --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This simple quote illustrates the truism that no one is immune from challenges in life. As a gift book or self-purchase, Comfort Prayers is a collection of prayers and poems that offers solace and encouragement.

At different times in life, everyone encounters sorrow, adversity, or a sense of being overwhelmed. Consider Comfort Prayers that motivating friend, wise inner voice, or soothing balm you can turn to when times get tough. The words within are the sage thoughts of those who have survived their own trials and then eloquently imparted their wisdom in the form of a prayer, poem, or prose.

Carefully chosen from more than 4,000 submissions from writers worldwide and more than 1,000 inspirational books, this timeless collection, compiled by author June Cotner, will bring hope, healing, and encouragement to its readers. Like June's successful inspirational collection Graces, this book is composed of 80 percent material from contemporary writers and 20 percent from classic and famous writers, such as Louisa May Alcott, William Wordsworth, and Eleanor Roosevelt. The result is a thoughtful collection that will calm the soul and lead to a path of healing and recovery. 

About this title

From the Author

"Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall"

This quotation, attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, has always given me comfort. These words and many others in this book illuminate the simple truth that no human is exempt from their own set of challenges. The message that the fate of humanity is to confront and overcome life's inevitable trials gives me a sense of the collective strength of the human spirit.

But obviously there are times when our circumstances are more than simple "rain." When we feel more like the victims of a treacherous storm - or a hurricane or a blizzard - and are completely overwhelmed, forced to confront adversity that seems beyond our resources. Unthinkable events will occur that test the limits of human endurance. Knowing that others have gone before and survived helps ease our pain and anxiety. It's during these times that I hope this book will provide solace, comfort, and perhaps even perspective.

There certainly have been times when I have felt so overcome as to have doubted my own ability to cope, yet, have somehow found the strength to gather my courage and continue on. This strength has come from the most surprising of sources. Perhaps from a sympathetic friend, from some voice within, or even from a fortune cookie's musing I happened to have absently stashed in my wallet and then stumbled upon just at the right moment.

This collection is intended to be that friend, that inner voice, or that saved quip. The words and notions contained herein have come to me throughout my years of collecting for other volumes of poetry and prayers. Since being moved by the first comforting pieces I received, I have always known that one day I would compile a volume specifically to provide solace on dark days - to spread empathy, share the burden, and nurture the strength of the human soul.

Anyone who has pondered the mystery of human suffering has surely asked the rhetorical question, "Why?" Perhaps suffering is a hidden gift, for what purpose could our trials serve other than to find and discover comfort in one another, in our faith, and in ourselves? I strongly believe that the times of most difficult challenge are a divine method of bonding us to one another and discovering our inner resources, thereby enriching the human spirit. I hope you find the words in this book will soothe your soul while providing comfort, encouragement, and inspiration.

About the Author

June Cotner---author, anthologist, and speaker---hails from Poulsbo, WA. She has appeared on national radio programs, and her books have been featured in many national publications including USA TODAY, Better Homes and Gardens, Woman's Day, and Family Circle. Collectively, her books have sold nearly one million copies.

About this edition

• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0740746855
• ISBN 13: 9780740746857
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160