Bending Angel

Prayer for Putin and for Peace — March 6, 2022

March 7, 2022 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

I have been watching BBC News and the coverage of the war in Ukraine, the death, the grief, the displacement of millions, the separated, the homeless, the mothers and children looking out the windows of despair at loved ones left behind, and the fear on the stark faces of Ukrainians who may soon be without a country. And have already become or may become widows, widowers, and orphans.

For two long years, the world has been infected with Covid. Millions have died. The war against it is not yet over. I wonder what the long-haul consequences of Covid are and how its victims and their offspring will be adversely affected for generations to come.

Now, in Russia, Ukraine, and the world people are infected and affected by another disease. That disease is seated in the heart of Putin. That disease is the evil inside Putin. His evil is like a tapeworm to the collective soul and consciousness of all people. Apparently, in good conscience, Putin has and continues to commit the unconscionable, hateful, and inhumane wrongs to countless children of the same God who gave Putin the gift of birth to live and to love on Earth. The picture posted with my prayer is of Putin in a Russian Orthodox Church. He is in a place of worship. He stands on Holy ground.

I am reminded of Pascal’s quote, “Evil is never done so thoroughly or so well as when it is done with a good conscience.” It is clear to me that Putin does not have a conscience or empathy for others who inhabit Ukraine or the larger world. The gravity of the evil inside him is so great it has suffocated his ability to love others or to feel remorse for the death and hardship borne by those who are the object of his indifference and hate.
Like many of you, I worry about WWIII, a nuclear holocaust. Warheads detonated by the spark of Putin’s evil. Similarly, the Holocaust, the killing of millions of Jews, was the result of the evil and hatred that started with one man, Adolf Hitler. Hitler’s evil infected thousands of Germans who followed his command.

I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Duck and Cover Drills at Dean Junior High. Worried parents. Prayers said to avoid destruction. My neighbors, the Sustaires, building a nuclear bomb shelter. I wondered if they would let me in if the worst happened. Of course, that was a silly thought. I knew there was just enough room for the Sustaire Family. Their shelter had no room for me and others.

In my weekly prayers, I usually focus on happier topics and even include some humor. But what is happening with Putin, Russia, and Ukraine is neither happy nor funny.

But the good news is this — The God you and I serve, and the God Putin should serve too is the God of love, the God of hope, and the God of salvation.

The good news is that the evil in Putin cannot kill God. That is because God’s love is far stronger and more powerful than Putin’s evil and hatred. Nuclear energy is no match for the Creator of everyone including Vladimir Putin.

Until there is peace, I ask that each of you please join me in constant prayer for God to address what we cannot accomplish by economic sanctions and providing military equipment.

God has spoken to us about being comforted and finding peace in times like this.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33
I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Let us pray together.

Dear God, in prayer I ask You to cover Putin with the precious body and blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

God, please shine Your Son’s healing light and love on Putin and those who follow his command to harm Your children.

God may Putin stand in the shadow of the Cross of Christ.

God, I ask that You and Your love vanquish the hate and evil in Putin’s heart and that others be shielded from harm in Ukraine and in Russia.

God, I thank You for watching over me and especially the Ukrainian people in their time of need of Holy Hope, comfort, and protection. Amen

If you like this prayer, please share.

If you want to purchase for yourself or a friend a copy of Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love or Prayerful Passages: Asking God’s Help in Reconciliation, Separation or Divorce, please click on here to go to Amazon.

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 145-lawyer full-service firm in Houston, Dallas, and Waco, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur, and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.

Prayer for Pets Passing over the Rainbow Bridge – February 20, 2022

February 19, 2022 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

In talking to friends and reading Facebook I hear stories of people who have lost their pets. Photographs are posted on Facebook of their experiences with pets and the moments of final embrace of a beloved dog or a cat. The level of grief experienced can be as great as losing a mother, a father, or a child. You and I know that pets are people too.

I have written the chapter in my book, Bending Angels, about my first pet, a dog named Brownie. Brownie was presented to me by my grandfather. At age seven I had just come home from the hospital. I felt like I had lost everything. I was paralyzed. I felt as lonely and as abandoned by God as my bicycle gathering dust in the garage.

There was a big hole in my life and in my spirit which seemed bottomless. Empty. Broken. Without a destination to something good. But, at that moment my grandfather placed in front of me a galvanized bucket full of vegetables from his garden. He said, “Bubba, look in this bucket and tell me if there something in it you want.” Leaning forward and looking down in the bucket I saw a six-week old Cocker spaniel puppy mutt mix. The puppy had big round eyes which looked like saucers, saucers lapping me with love spilling over the edges.

I learned about God’s unconditional love from my dog, Brownie. Also, I first experienced the grief that is known in the death of someone or something I loved. I could describe more of that feeling with you in this prayer. But, this week I choose not to.

I follow a column, Sean of the South. This column shows up in my inbox to start my day. The author posted a column this week entitled, All Dogs Go to Heaven. Rather than posting my experiences with the life and death of Brownie, instead I share with you this Sean of the South article. When you read it be prepared to laugh hysterically and then use a Kleenex or two at the end of the article. Here is the link to the article.

https://seandietrich.com/all-dogs-go-to-heaven/

God has spoken to us in Scripture about our pets.

Job 12:7
But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.

Revelation 5:13
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Let us pray together.

Dear God, in prayer I thank You for my pets through whom I have received Your love, compassion, and care.

God, I know that I am imperfect. But, I am so blessed to get to know Your unconditional love for me from my pets.

God, please help me take good care of my pets. I know that I should love them and care for them as You do me.

God, please help others open their hearts and their homes to pets who need to be adopted and have been abandoned by others.

God, I look forward to being reunited with my pets who have crossed or will cross the Rainbow Bridge to the place where I, my loved ones, and Your creatures great and small will live together forever. Amen

If you like this prayer, please share.

Prayer to Know and Show What Love Is on Valentine’s Day and Every Day – February 13, 2022

February 12, 2022 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Click here for Jack’s song, “What Is Love?”

Those of you who are part of my prayer community have read my prayers which often touch on love–giving it, receiving it, sharing it, and knowing what it is.

It is hard to imagine a life truly lived without it. One cannot stress enough the importance of love and the harm to every person who does not receive it, especially at critical times; times I call Prayerful Passages. When death, loss, tragedy, or illness strikes. We need love then more than ever.

You and I have spent a lifetime learning what love is. It is in you and me. It magnificently shines from the lips and hugs and the little things children do. It happens when we pass it on to others. Pay for the coffee for the next car in line at Starbucks. Make donations of clothing at Goodwill. Write a personal letter of condolence to one who has lost a loved one or pet. Just like God’s love, the number of things you and I can do to show our love to another is without limit.

One day my heart and yours will stop beating. But, our loving acts live forever in those we leave behind. Gifts of love are seeds of God’s love that grow in the hearts of others, generation after generation.

On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love. We give love and receive it too. From school children giving cards and candy hearts which say, “I love you,” or to a special dinner, cocktail, flowers, and a box of chocolate to our special Valentine.

My Valentine card to you today is my song, “What Is Love.” My deepest praise to Stephanie Jones, lead vocalist, Brian Carrion, guitarist and accompanying vocalist, and to Brad Burks of Austin who added the lyrics and graphics to the video. Click here for the YouTube video.

On Valentine’s Day, I will be with my Valentine for life, my wife Dorothy. Dorothy means “gift from God.” Thanks to God and to Dorothy I know what love truly is. I get to celebrate love not just on Valentine’s Day, but all year long.

God has spoken to us in Scripture about receiving and sharing love.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Let us pray together.

Dear God, in prayer may I see all the gifts of Your love You have given me.

God, may I be forever thankful for receiving Your love directly from You and from others in my life.

God, please help me to honor and serve You by sharing my love, compassion, and care with others.

God, may I strive to love others on ordinary days and not just on Valentine’s Day or special occasions. For You love me because I am special to You every day of my life and one day in Heaven. Amen

If you like this prayer, please share.

Prayer in Honor of Philip Abbott Masquelette and All Great Mentors – January 30, 2022

January 30, 2022 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Photos: Elizabeth (Betty) Simmons, Lamar High School
L-R Philip Masquelette, his Mother, and Brother Frank
Credit: Elizabeth Selig, Granddaughter, and David Masquelette, Son, for the photographs

Click here for Jack’s video version of this prayer.

Last week’s prayer was on grieving.

Yesterday I grieved for the loss of a truly great man, son, husband, family patriarch, Navy man, banker, probate and estate lawyer, member of the Houston Country Club, resident of River Oaks, and dear friend. But what made Philip great to me and to so many others who celebrated his life at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Piney Point Road was his faith in God, his stewardship to the Church, and the time he took throughout his life to mentor me and countless others.

As a young attorney, there were many times I desperately needed guidance, reassurance, wisdom, and a moral compass to be the best lawyer I could be. I wanted to emulate the kind of integrity, love, and action Philip exemplified in his long life of 96 years.

When I succeeded Philip as Chancellor of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Philip gave me all of the books I needed to study to learn the Cannons and laws of the Church. He always made time to train me to be the best I could be in that role. That is what great mentors do.

After I prepared wills for a prominent St. Francis couple who were later murdered by their son in November of 1992, Philip stood by me all the way in probating their wills and administering their complicated estates. After identifying the bodies and meeting with their son before his arrest, for a time I no longer had ease in my life.

At night in order to sleep, I held an ADT panic alarm button in one hand and a crucifix in the other. Philip stepped in to take the lead role in the Probate litigation in Judge Scanlon’s Court to keep the son from inheriting from the parents he killed. Philip became a beacon of light to spare me further emotional pain.

Philip mentored me as if I was his son. He called me “Bubba” or “young man” even after I was no longer young. That was not just for my benefit. That is the way all of us were treated in Philip’s mentoring. His mentoring of us was similar to Jesus and His 12 apostles who became His disciples, who spread light, hope, and wisdom to others in their struggles, in their grieving, and in their quest to love others.

From 1999 until 2007 I officed across the hall from Philip at the Decorative Center. Beginning in 2008 Philip and I joined Gray Reed (formerly Looper Reed and Mc Graw). I can say those years together were the happiest years in my legal practice. The proximity to Philip and his greatness brought me much joy, many laughs, and ultimately God’s peace.

In 2008 Philip invited me to join his family at the Houston Country Club to celebrate the 60th Wedding Anniversary of his marriage to his beautiful bride Betty Simmons Masquelette. Like Philip, Betty was a mentor to innumerable men and women. Betty was the first woman ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Betty officed with Philip at the Decorative Center as well as at Gray Reed. The lawyers and staff knew they could always drop in, close Betty’s door and be mentored, receive a prayer, and God’s peace.

At the celebration of their 60th Wedding Anniversary on display was a picture of Betty Simmons from her high school years. She had been chosen as Houston’s Most Beautiful High School Girl. While looking at that picture as we shared a gin and tonic (the official libation of all Episcopalians), Philip reflected on the first day he saw Betty on the stairs in the Simmons home. He fell immediately in love with her and his love continued until his last breath.

As the service ended the Reverend Stuart Bates lead the Commendation of Philip into the arms of God’s mercy. At that moment my thoughts centered on the Heavenly reward earned by Philip and Betty in their service to God. For as God’s disciples, they are together in God’s perfect peace. Caressing one another in God’s everlasting loving embrace.

May we honor them. May we show our thanksgiving to them and to God by being mentors to others and being the best children of God we can be.
Knowing Philip and Betty and witnessing their mentorship to others was to know the Father of us all. For they represented God’s love in the world. Just how much do we in America need this now and forever?

God has spoken to us in Scripture about mentoring in His Kingdom.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Hebrews 13:7
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Philippians 4:9
The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Let us pray together.

Dear God, in prayer I thank you for Philip and Betty Masquelette and all mentors in my life.

God, please help me to mentor others, to listen, to encourage, and to guide others in following God’s path in the living of their lives.

God, I rejoice in knowing that when I mentor others as Your disciple my works shine Your light and love on the world. Amen

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Prayer for Grief Clothed in the Closet – January 22, 2022

January 23, 2022 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Click here to enjoy Jack’s video version of this prayer.

Every child of God will experience grief at one point in their life. Grief comes to every one of us when we lose a family member or a parent dies. Grieving is more difficult today because of the impact of the safety precautions in this Pandemic.

As hard as the process of grieving is, it is made much more difficult if one cannot physically share grief with others. Sharing grief by Zoom is hardly as healing as the warm embrace of others. Or sitting in the comfort of home or place of worship with another without fear of catching or giving COVID to the other person.

I, like many people, have somehow managed to move beyond the grief of lost family members. We never quite forget what was lost, yet somehow our hearts manage to adapt. At some point, most of us find a way to step out of the darkness of sorrow and death and move forward into the light of a new day, a new future filled with hope.

There are many ways people deal differently with grief. Kubler-Ross says grief has five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Each person does not move through the stages in the same order. Some stages in the grieving process are not experienced by everyone who grieves. In our fast-paced digital world, those who grieve are often not given the time to grieve in their own way or their own time. Here is one example of someone who experienced grief in her own unexpected way.

I have a friend Betty (not her name). She and her sister, Linda (not her name), were very close. Linda was a good wife and mother to her children. Betty was a gifted caregiver, organizer, and cook. Between the sisters who were both devoted to their parents, Betty took care of the personal and day-to-day needs of her parents until they died. Betty was in charge of probating their wills and handling the disposition of the contents of their parents’ home.

After both parents had died, Betty and Linda worked together over a few years to divide the furnishings of the home and to dispose of the remaining contents of the home except for one area-the master bedroom closet. It was full of their mother’s clothes. Her dresses, sweaters, shawls, blouses, and shoes. Despite Betty’s repeated requests for Linda to join her to deal with their mother’s clothes, Linda never agreed to do so. Over the years when Betty and Linda were together at the house Linda never found the time to take care of this one last important task.

The time had come for the house to be sold. Betty had given up on Linda. She had to just take care it on her own without Linda’s help.
Before the closing date on the sale of the home, Betty and Linda were at the residence one last time. Linda left the room and came back in a few minutes with tears flowing down her face. Betty said, “Linda, what on Earth is wrong?” In reply, Linda exclaimed, “Where are Mother’s clothes?” Betty said, “I gave them to charity so that someone in need could use them.” Linda responded, “How could you have done that?” Betty replied, “I didn’t know you cared. I have been asking you for years to go through them with me. You always refused.” Linda said, “I did care. You never noticed that every time I met you at the house I left you for a few minutes. On those occasions, I opened the door to Mother’s clothes closet. I closed the door behind me. In the darkness, I was able to smell Mom. Even though Mom was dead, I visited her in that closet. I felt her presence, her light, and her love.”

Being in her mother’s closet Linda found a way to embrace her mother’s death. To be present with her for a few minutes. That was Linda’s way to grieve for the death of her mother.

God has spoken to us in Scripture as to how to manage grief.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Let us pray together.

Dear God, in prayer, please be with me when my grief is clothed in darkness and sorrow.

God, as each day passes please comfort me as only You can.

God, please help me to be present with others who grieve and to listen and have them share their emotional pain in their own way and in their own time.

God, please grant me the courage and strength to accept the loss of the one I loved.

God, my Savior and Redeemer, at the end of my grieving days on Earth, I have faith that Your light will pierce the darkness. Your love will deliver me and those I’ve lost to Heaven-the final resting place where all grieving truly ends and eternal life begins with You and in You forever and ever. Amen

If you like this prayer, please share.

New Year’s Prayer on British Sterling Cologne and Superficial Things – January 1, 2022

January 1, 2022 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Click here to enjoy Jack’s video version of this prayer.

As I begin my first day of the first month of a New Year, I always reflect on the lessons of the past, the blessings today, and the harvest of happiness, love, and joy I hope to experience in the next 365 days.

Last week, I reflected on my Cy-Fair High School days. Like most healthy teenage boys, I so much wanted to have a relationship with a girl. Not just any girl, but a special one. One of my heart’s desire. But how? I was disabled and different because of polio.

I had my eyes on one of the pretty, smiling cheerleaders. She was not the least interested in me. She dated the good-looking, strong athletes who played football and basketball. One of my classmates was David Kubiak. He was one of those guys I could not compete with. David was a fine, handsome young man. David had all the physical gifts I would never have.

I had another dear high school friend, then and now. Gary Miller. Gary had no problem dating the prettiest and most fun girls at Cy-Fair. Looking at Gary, I have to admit I was guilty of one of the Seven Deadly Sins—Envy. Gary had recently transferred to Cy-Fair at a time when the cool surfer-Beach Boys crowd had moved to the Champions’ upscale neighborhood and now legendary golf course.

In class each day I closely studied Gary. I looked at the qualities which made him a magnet for the girls I dreamed to date. Highly polished shoes. Finely pressed slacks. Madras shirts. His tanned skin. His handsome head of hair was razor-cut at Houston’s stylish Norris of Houston salon. Gary topped off his attractiveness to women by wearing great-smelling cologne. He had a smile on his face most of the time too. There was a little hope for me to emulate Gary because smiling came naturally to me.

In copying Gary as perfectly as I tried it never resulted in the joy and happiness I sought to achieve. Or getting the right girl. I did what Gary did. The razor cuts. The shiny shoes. The finely pressed slacks and Madras shirts. My tanned face from sitting under a sunlamp in winter. Blond streaks of hair on my head by applying lemon juice. Wearing a trendy gold bracelet. Topped off with what I thought was the irresistible scent to women–British Sterling.

Trying to be like Gary never worked. It did not provide joy or a meaningful relationship with a girl. No matter how much I bathed in British Sterling or sought to appear as Gary, what I hoped for never materialized. After my high school years, I learned that such superficial things would never secure for me the happiness, joy, intimacy, and love I wanted.

I learned that all I had to do was to just be the person God made me. To be kind. To listen and to care. To pray. Then, God would place in my path true love. My bride, Dorothy. God would give me more to treasure as each old year passes and each New Year begins. Being my “best” me would provide a bountiful harvest of love and blessings from God.

For Christmas this year Dorothy gave me a bottle of British Sterling, a scent I have not smelled or worn in over 50 years. I wear it and do not expect or desire a single thing from it this New Year. For God and Dorothy have provided to me everything I need.

God has spoken to us in Scripture about finding love.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Let us pray together.

Dear God, in prayer please guide me to be the “best” me I can be. That You have ensouled in my creation the gifts I need to find love and happiness.

God, please steer me away from superficial things. Things I can buy or wear. For things and possessions can never provide me with what I need.

God, please cast from me the false belief that I can find or receive love in what I own. For to find love and happiness is to be like You. To be Your love in the world. And to one day be part of Your love forever in Heaven. Amen

If you like this prayer, please share.

If you want to purchase for yourself or a friend a copy of Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love or Prayerful Passages: Asking God’s Help in Reconciliation, Separation or Divorce, please click on here to go to Amazon.

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 145-lawyer full-service firm in Houston, Dallas, and Waco, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur, and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.