Regardless of whether you are a spiritual person,
it's common to hear someone say they are praying for a patient. It's generally appreciated for the patient
and family members to hear this.
If you use social media, you will find that many
times people ask for support for themselves, or a loved one that is ill. Of course, social media is a catch-all for
everything. Telling a person that they are in your thoughts and prayers is received
as a kind gesture.It makes the patient and family member feel not so alone to
know that others care about them and are thinking of them. That in itself can
lift spirits.
Praying when ill or when a friend or a family
member is unwell might be one of the most common of religious impulses. The
three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each encourage the
practice. Approximately 60 percent of Muslims, 72 percent of Christians and 74
percent of Jews have prayed for "help with specific diseases,"
according to a survey. Some 37 states
protect parents from criminal liability for choosing prayer over medicine in
healing their children, and lawmakers in Idaho are debating a bill that would
strengthen that religious exemption.
While some would suggest the simple act of praying
can be emotionally helpful, those believers expecting a definite, positive result,
whether at a faith healer's revival or in the quiet of a hospital chapel, often
have to confront their beliefs when a prayer seems to have failed. Of course, some will say, prayers are
answered, just not in the way we want, every time.
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It allows the person to know someone cares.
Studies Conducted
We
already know that a patient with a positive attitude is more likely to do
better, but when the positive portion is missing, others may help fill the
gap.
- One study conducted by a University involved 200 patients with varying medical conditions, all of whom were hospitalized. Randomly selected, 100 of those patients were thought of daily, whether prayed for, or simply meditating thoughts of them were done. After 3 months, the patient's that were in daily thoughts of the group actually showed improvement over the ones not included in thoughts and prayers. Out of the group thought of, 72% showed marked improvement, while the remainder were either worse, or the same. Of the group that was not thought of daily, 37% showed improvement, while the remainder worsened or stayed the same. Was this coincidental? It could be. During a 3-year period the exact study was conducted. The results continued to show the patients that were on someone's mind did better, on average, 44% better, a significant number. This can all be seen as coincidence, but an interesting one nonetheless.
Behind
the power of praying and well wishes is positive thinking.Positive thoughts
have proven to be beneficial in creating a better attitude and environment.
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