Prayer beads

I read a book a few years ago about prayer beads. Called A String and a Prayer : How to make and use prayer beads by Eleanor Wiley and Maggie Oman Shannon, I learned a lot about the history of prayer beads and how to make them. I used to think that they were used only by Catholics, in the form of the rosary, but in fact almost every religious tradition has their version of prayer beads. I made some of my own, stringing clay beads on narrow pieces of leather. I made a strand for nuclear family, one for extended family, another one for friends and one for work concerns, then joined them together. I have used them daily for a couple of years, and I can’t tell you how comforting it is to hold a bead named for each dear one in my life, and then to pray for them. In ordinary times, it has been a source of peace for me to use them.

Now, in extraordinary times, my simple prayer beads have become even more important and meaningful to me. I was trying to picture how when stores are closed,one could make a set of prayer beads if one wanted to. I think we could use shoelaces or yarn that we have around the house to string beads or buttons on.

I remember as a young child watching my grandma praying using her rosary beads. Who knew that as a woman of 65 now, I too would turn to my prayer beads for comfort? Thanks Grandma Gleeson for showing me the way!