Prayers

Do people ever thank you for praying for them, when in reality their problems aren't even being taken into consideration while you're praying? It happens to me from time to time, not often, but every now and again someone will say something to me like "thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers, it means a lot," while I privately think to myself "interesting...until now it hasn't even occurred to me to pray for you." Of course I actually respond to them by saying something like "Oh, not a problem. I just really hope things get better..." That's right, I roll with it. I'm not going to admit to them that I haven't been concerning myself with their problems. That probably makes me a selfish person, but perhaps this is just a way for people to attempt to solicit prayers in their own behalf without actually coming right out and requesting them? Then again I guess there's always that possibility that they just sincerely believe that I am far more aware and considerate of their hardships than my actual prayers would indicate.