As I am writing this, our minister is undergoing open-heart surgery. His family and friends of the family have gathered in the waiting area to encourage one another. Prayers have been said, and now we wait.

On Sunday morning, Mr. Charlie came to visit my Bible class. The children presented him with a teddy bear. The bear had a small blanket attached and a poem, signed by the children. This is what the poem says:

“I’m not a very fancy bear,

I’m plain and rather small.

Even so, someone who likes you

Said I should come to call.

 

Hide me underneath your pillow

Or set me on a nearby shelf.

And when you feel discouraged,

I will do my best to help.

 

I brought my favorite blanket

That I snuggle when I’m sad.

It’s a present from my granny,

Made for days when things seem bad.

 

My granny always told me,

“Life is like this patchwork quilt.

Just give Jesus all the pieces,

And He’ll make a pretty quilt.”

 

Sometimes I don’t see the pattern.

Sometimes He seems far away.

Then I clutch my favorite blanket,

And I pray, and pray, and pray.

 

Though I don’t have all the answers

(I’m just a “Burden Bear”)

I’ve been sent here on a mission,

From someone who really cares.

 

When you see me please remember,

YOU are in our thoughts and prayers.”

After presenting Mr. Charlie with the bear, one of the fifth grade boys prayed for Him. No prayer has ever been more sincerely prayed than that one. He prayed for a man whom he loves and respects. He prayed for the doctors and nurses who will care for him.

Mr. Charlie promised the children he would take the bear with him to the hospital, and he did just that. His bear will be there when he wakes, and we hope the memory of the children praying for him will encourage him to get well.

Since we found out last week that this surgery would take place, our congregation has been earnestly praying. Why? James says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:17 ESV). We are praying that Mr. Charlie will be well.

The truth is, prayer should be constant in our lives. “Pray without ceasing” (First Thessalonians 5:17). Think about what that would mean to each of us. If everyone took that verse and put it into practice, our lives would be very different.

It would be very difficult to be angry, speak unkindly to others, lie, cheat, steal, or live a life of sin. We would be praying for the things Jesus talked about when he taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6.

• We would be addressing the Father in reverence and not taking His name in vain.
• We would be satisfied with His will being done and not ours.
• We would pray for what we need, not what we want.
• We would forgive as we want to be forgiven.
• We would pray for deliverance from evil and not walk purposely into sin.

So, will you say a prayer for Mr. Charlie? Will you make prayer a part of your daily life? Will you keep a prayerful spirit? The devil won’t like it, but God surely will.

Sandra Oliver