"Praying for you.." a vent

[YoPopa]

How do you respond to someone saying "I'm praying for you."?

You could try:

"Thank you, here is a list of specifics you can request for me. Bring me a casserole, or a bucket of chicken, take my kids to a movie, drive over to my house and feed and let out my dogs, take my kids to their band lesson or baseball practice, buy me a cup of coffee."

 

[Hooloovoo]

From my (thankfully) limited experience with family or friends having serious illness, some of the people who said they'd be praying for us were also some of the most apt to offer actual help. The two things can go together, and I bet most of the time they do. Of course it can be a cop out, but oftentimes it isn't. It also depends on how close the friend is to you. I'd be more offended if my very best friend or immediate family offered to pray for me and didn't offer to look after my pets than I would if a more distant acquaintance did the same.
If none of your extended family or close friends offered to help your family out during such a time of need, then shame on them. You really shouldn't have to ask in such a situation; they should be offering. There's nothing wrong with asking for help, either, but a good friend offers, whether they're praying or not. A person can pray and get that bucket of chicken at the same time. The bucket of chicken would mean more.
And I'm glad to know that your husband is doing well. I hope your family gets plenty of much needed r&r, and gets back to normal life asap.

 

[Hooloovoo]

When a customer comes into my work and has just gone through a terrible crisis, I usually feel obligated to say some stupid thing like "I hope everything goes as well as it possibly can" even though I know my words really don't help. I feel like a jerk if I don't let them know I hate that they're suffering, even if I don't know them well or at all. It's hard to come up with soothing words, and saying "I'll pray for you" might be the only words that come to many people's minds. If very many people react to crisis situations like I do, they're at a loss for words.
Hearing "I'll pray for you" over and over does get plenty irritating, too, however well-meaning the folks saying it are. To answer the original question, a half-hearted "thanks" is an easy reply.
But like I said before, a good friend might annoy you with that phrase, but he also offers to help you out.

 

[YoPopa]

It could be worse than "I'll Pray for you." I knew some folks who would start speaking in tongues and then get all Mother Teresa about how much they'd helped.

 

[Hooloovoo]

Speaking in tongues? They're deluded. I'll pray for them.

 

[Carnivore]

How do you respond to someone saying "I'm praying for you."?

Say "Thank you."

Then look up at the sky, raise your arms and roar:"Oh, mighty Thor, this person offers you their worship that you may favour my cause."

Inform them that a small sacrifice of beer or mead is appropriate, just a can of lager left in the garden will do.

If they explain that they were praying to another god, act very offended and tell them their prayers are an insult to Thor. Tell them that Thor doesnt poach on other god's territory and demands the same respect from their god. Praying to another god on behalf of one of Thor's followers is like sleeping with Thor's wife.

Use your hands to demonstrate just how large Thor's hammer is, and explain the sort of places he sticks it when smiting those who diss him.

 

[Nankay]

ok, now you guys are just cracking me up....and I thank you for that!

Yes, Skeptigirl, it was a nasty invasive strep infection. It followed the lymph system up his leg like a superhighway. With time and rehab things are going well. I'm glad it started when it did and not while I was in Vegas for TAM. Hubby would have sat there thinking, "Oh I'll wait till Nan gets back". Big dummy.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Just boggles the mind that we can get such infections. Thank science we live in the modern world.

Glad things are going well.