A New Year's Eve Prayer

 "I'm so open to whatever you want me to do. I'll always be a disciple forever." 

I read this last line, on the cusp of 2024, and it struck me. I felt like I was reading through someone's diary, or personal prayers to God. It actually wasn't a journal at all, but a booklet of 'The 7 Joys of Mary.' 

When I was looking through this booklet the first time, I came to a written part at the back, someone had written a note, rather a prayer in cursive. I was able to read most of it and felt a bit awestruck. Here I was on New Years Eve of 2023, and this lady wrote this prayer, if you will, on the same day, 2014. 

Here is the rest of it:

"Tonight is the last day of 2014. I'm leaving this year without or with (?) any troubled thoughts or (not sure what she wrote here) and going into 2015 to ask (?) dear Lord to guide me- so I ask for strength and forgiveness. Please always be with me and my family and children and dear friends. [I'm so open to whatever you want me to do. I'll always be your disciple forever.]" - Bonnie Allan Oto Wheaton

I've looked over her writing many times, even when I wasn't reading this booklet. I still couldn't make out some of her handwriting, but the overall message was the same. She was holding onto God, His graces, promises and for her to keep being lead and have the strength to endure whatever it was she was battling. It was an honest prayer, a beautiful prayer. There was nothing showy about. It was hidden in the last page of this book, and easy to be overlooked or forgotten. 

Upon the first time I read it, it brought tears to my eyes. Her last line there showcases a woman of true faith and character, emulating our Blessed Mother- as the book is all about Mary and depicting her 7 joys.

 I want to follow in her footsteps, in this same way of asking, even begging our Lord for not only guidance and strength but also to continue following him whatever the cost. To be a disciple- that will never change. 'I'll always be a disciple forever'. Beautiful.