Yet, as a child, I never heard her pray out loud.
It wasn't until I married, had our children, did I begin to pray out loud even with my family.
No doubt she prayed.
Her life was hard as a child, even though she didn’t complain.
They lived in the country, had no electricity, no running water.
Raised their food, which was common in those years.
The first day of school one year the teacher told the class everyone needed to bring a nickel for supplies.
Even though she was very young, she knew there was no way her parents had the money and she was not about to ask them.
So as she was walking home in the beautiful weather, she knew who she could tell about her need. She’d talked to the Lord about it; no one else.
After arriving home, she went under the front porch, her favorite place after school.
Home was an old shotgun house, high off the ground, making a fun place to relax, after a long day at school.
The cool, soft dirt trickled through her hands as she played in the shade of the porch.
Hearing her dad just above her, in the old swing, was comforting.
She was sure mother was in the house getting a snack ready for him. It was time for a break from the work of the day.
While swinging, he’d sip cool, ice tea, on hot sunny days, enjoying telling funny stories to entertain everyone.
Usually, she couldn’t wait to hear more of his funny stories, but not today.
She didn’t want to tell him about her problem, so she thought it best to play a little longer under the creaky porch swing.
She was confident that Jesus was with her.
Asking Jesus what she should do was important.
Go to Dad?
Go to school and tell the teacher they have no money?
She continues, playing in the soft, white dirt, thinking it over; she sifts the soil through her small hands.
Suddenly a nickel slips through too!
Immediately she runs to Papa Long, excited that God had answered her questions!
She went to school the next day prepared to pay for the supplies needed for the year. Peace.
Hearing her story late in my life, I couldn’t help but wonder why she didn’t share it with us as children. Maybe it’s because she didn’t like drawing attention to herself.
Well, she’s in the presence of her Jesus now!
Years have passed and I’ve often thought of that prayer answer for a small child; it explains so much about the confidence she had in Christ.
She was sure of what she hoped for and certain of what she could not see.
Unlike the old saying “it’s not personal, it’s business”, this walking with Jesus is very personal!
He longs for us to take time with him, read his word, and listen to him.
Talk to him.
It’s called prayer.
Christ Jesus, the Son of God waits for you to get personal with him.
