By Richard McIntyre
I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word!
I didn't ask for wealth of fame
(I knew you wouldn't mind).
I asked Him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind!
I asked that He'd be near you
At the start of each new day;
To grant your health and blessings
And friends to share your way!
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care
I prayed the most of all!
© Richard J McIntyre
Note on origin: This is a poem that Richard McIntyre wrote to his ailing step-father. It is widely circulated and many people have asked about the author - mystery solved!
Further reading
This poem treats prayer for another person as a daily act of love, asking for comfort and lasting good. Ronald Rolheiser’s Prayer: Our Deepest Longing considers how to make prayer a steady part of life, including the days when words or attention are difficult to find.
Prayer: Our Deepest Longing by Ronald Rolheiser (paperback) on Amazon (paid link)