During our recent trip to Israel we stopped at the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. The Western wall is located on the western side of the Temple Mount, in the heart of old Jerusalem.
Men pray on one side. The bigger side.
Women pray on the other, much smaller side.
Coming here was bitter sweet. I had many mixed prayers to place in the wall, but one in particular I was not able to place. For the past 8 months my dear sweet neighbor battled Pancreatic Cancer, and she stopped her fight just weeks before my trip. I had wanted to place a prayer in the wall for her and to bring her back something from my tour to the Holy Land. I had wanted to hold her hand and tell her about my trip. I wanted…Yet, He wanted her more.
She is now in Heaven holding the hands of our Father and so I placed a prayer in the wall for her family instead. I know they find comfort in her having eternal life, out of a body that is no longer riddled with cancer and subjected to chemotherapy—yet I know they miss her dearly and so I pray that they continue to find comfort in the fact they will see her again.
I found a hole in the wall. I reached my arm in as far as it would go, and then I found it went in a bit more to the left. That is where I tucked my prayers. The prayers I promised my friends. The prayers I never allowed anyone else to pray for me.
Our guide Asher shared with us that there is a special person appointed to pick up any prayers that fall to the ground and take them to the Mount of Olives where they are buried. The Jewish people have such respect for the prayers placed in this wall.
Would you like to place a prayer in the Wailing Wall? You can send your prayer here or here by email or by mailing it to:
Western Wall Plaza
Jewish Quarter
Jerusalem, Israel
Telephone: 972 2627 1333
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Wow, that is so cool that you can mail a prayer to put in the wall! Of course I would rather do it in person, I can't believe the respect they have for that wall. I can't imagine having a wall like that in the US, all the prayers would be ripped out or just thrown away.
It's just so amazing to me that you were actually there! I'm sorry about your neighbor, that is just terrible but as you say, God wanted her more.
Sending prayers your way!
How can anyone say there is no God when our very own hearts and souls CRY OUT for Him! So many hearts, dreams, and fears exposed on bits of paper. God hears them. Thinking about them being buried in the Mount of Olives… wow, that gives me goosebumps and makes me cry. To be THERE… right there where Jesus prayed and agonized. He gave all for you and me. I am humbled.
Love you bunches, Karin.