|
Return to
Main Page
Return to
Shopping Mini-Mall
Current Sunday
Journal Menu
Archives menu
|
|
A
WINTER DAY'S BOTTLED-UP PRAYER
10-26-08
My
mother knew the Bible about as well as anyone I have ever known and she
often referred to a verse she quoted as "the prayers of the saints are
bottled up in heaven." She went on to say that after a mother has been
gone for years her prayers would still be poured out on her children.
Imagine my shock about a year ago when I got my concordance out to find
that verse and discovered it is not in the Bible. All I can figure is
that my mother read some verse that made her have that thought or took
someone's word for it. All I know is I had an experience one cold winter
day that made me realize the power of mother's words.
We attended a small community church for a few years and there was a
beautiful mother there named Barker who had a retarded son my age. It
was so sweet to watch her cherish that son. She would tell my mother, "I
know Marvin is a slow learner and when I think of dying and leaving him
to make it on his own, I sometimes panic. Then I remember that God is
going to be with him after I am gone. I will store up enough prayers to
last him the rest of his life."
I loved this lady for her pride in her son and for the spiritual honey
that dripped from her soul onto everyone who knew her. She made me feel
she was Jesus in His female form. To this moment I can remember her face
and receive a wonderful blessing.
One night when I left work very tired and wanted to rush home I saw
Marvin walking in the opposite direction. A voice as clear as someone
with a megaphone spoke in my mind, "You have been chosen to pour out one
of Sister Barkers prayers on Marvin today. Turn around and go pick him
up."
I found a place to turn around and picked him up and our conversation
went like this:
"Where are you walking to, Marvin?"
"The food stamp office."
"That's at least five miles across town."
"Yeah, I know. I walk there every week."
"I haven't seen you much since we were kids. How have you been doing?"
"I am real happy. I have a good wife and have worked as a sack boy for a
long time now. We don't have a car but we have about all we need. We
live in the Campbell Street Housing Project. I can't complain about
nothing."
As I savored the beautiful attitude and values that his mother installed
in him, it seemed to me that Jesus Christ himself and Mrs. Barker joined
us in that car. It was a clear and distinct feeling to me. I didn't talk
much the rest of the way to the food stamp office because I didn't want
to disturb the powerful energy and Presence in the car.
I waited until he got his food stamps and then took him home. He said,
"Would it be asking too much for me to go and get my wife. She won't
believe someone so famous picked me up."
He ran in his apartment and brought out his wife. She was also mentally
limited but overflowing with love for Marvin. I thought of Jesus saying,
"The two shall become one."
I could not help the tears that streamed down my face as I drove on
home. It was some of the deepest joy I have ever experienced. Joy that
God allowed me to be the one that day to pour out Sister Barker's
prayers on her beloved son. Joy that I could see my mother's quote was
as true as any word in the Bible.
Joy to know that the famous people in the car with us were Sister Barker
and Jesus Christ Himself.
|
