Over-Thinking a Compliment

It all began with a simple phrase, one that's probably been said to you at some point in your life. A phrase that there is almost no response to, aside from, "Thank you." A phrase that makes me stop and think like none other. And think I have been. This phrase was simply this - "I'll say a prayer for you."

I'm not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination. I believe in my own form of God, whom I refer to as "God," and I do talk to God from time to time. But not every night like some people do. And I have nothing against those who pray on a regular basis. That's their prerogative; good for them. I'm just not the church-going, all-believing, kneeling-by-my-bedside-every-evening type. I'm nice to others, hope others pay me the same respect, and that's pretty much my philosophy in life. I don't share it with others much, nor do I care much to have others share theirs with me, and go about my life as a generally "good" person, in whatever meaning I take that to be. And being nice to others affords me the pleasure of meeting people who genuinely care.

I was at work the other day, and in discussing my occupational situation with a regular customer, I told him that I was just kind-of looking for the next step I would take in my life. In response he said, "I'll say a prayer for you." Like I stated before, all I could really respond with was, "Thank you," and then continued to go about my tasks. But it got me thinking: What should it matter to me, someone who doesn't pray himself, if someone else is praying for me? Was I appreciative? Absolutely. I thought that was a very sweet thing for this elderly gentleman to say. I think he was genuine in saying it, and I have no trouble imagining him including me in his daily correspondence to his deity. But how many others does he include in his prayers? As a follow-up to that, does the number of people he asks God to remember diminish the impact or importance of any one of those people? Does he say that he'll pray for every Johnny Hard-Luck Story? As a follow-up to THAT, is his God the omnipotent type that will remember everyone he asks Him to, or would I be lost in the shuffle due to overcrowding in his prayers? And aren't there others more deserving of help from above? I mean, I've already got a job, which is more than some people can say right now.

Maybe I'm over-thinking a compliment, if that's what you choose to call it. I mean, you could also call it an affirmation of someone's own beliefs, since what you're implying when you say, "I'll say a prayer for you" is "I believe in God, and I want Him to help you, even if you don't believe in Him." But I prefer to think of it as a compliment, of an acquaintance saying, "I think enough of you to keep you on my mind in my most personal and spiritual of moments." And even if I'm not the religious type, I still find that somewhat comforting.