Pray for Someone
Jodiann Schott
Sunday at church I was watching the people standing at the altar in
front of me as we all together sang praises of our God. I watched a
young woman stand humbly, singing as tears streamed down her cheeks.
I can only wonder about what was going on inside of her heart.
I also witness a sweet scene of a Dad standing at the altar holding
the hands of his little children singing unto the Lord together. The
Dad seems very intent on exampling the worship. Alongside the three,
is a small boy standing alone gazing longingly at his Dad. The look
on his face is that of a hungry child, hungry for the love of a
Father. My heart goes out to him. So small, very soon he will be
old enough to attend school and have to face this big world, still
hungry. At that moment the pastor asks everyone to turn to the
person next to them and pray for them. The Father, oblivious to the
lone child, turns to grab the hands of his children and walks away to
find the Mother. I watch the family embrace, clasp hands and bow
their heads in reverent prayer.
My gaze returns to the small boy, he is standing alone. In my heart
I feel his pain and want to fix his plight. They say a picture is
worth a thousand words and a lifetime can pass through your mind in a
moment; what a serial feeling I experience as I glimpse into the
lives of those around me.
Just then, a tall young man passes by me in pursuit of someone to
pray for. I grab his arm and point to the little boy alone at the
altar. No words are used, but the young man somehow understands. He
turns and approaches the small boy. They could have been brothers by
the looks of them, but I know they don’t know each other based on
their body language. The young man towers over the small boy who has
to bend his head completely back to see the face of the young man.
Bending down on one knee, the young man is still head and shoulders
taller than the boy. As this young man bends his head to look into
the face of the boy, I observe what I can only assume as consent for
prayer. I then witness the young man rest his big hand on the
little boy’s shoulder and spread out over his small frame. The
little boy bows his head in reverence and in replication of the young
man bowing his head. The prayer is just long enough and the small
boy raises his eyes to watch the young man pray for him. His little
head nods his agreement and his lips moved to “Amen.” The young man
uncurls his large frame, stands and pats the small boy on the head,
then walks away.
I kept watching the small boy. He pulls himself up to a taller stance
even to lift his chin ever so slightly higher and square his
shoulders. Then, he runs to his Mother.
I don’t think the Mom even knew what God did for her son that
morning. What the young man prayed I will never know; but God does.
I have worshiped at the altar many times but this tender moment and
sweet innocent bouquet of God using his people as instruments of His
love will always be fresh in my heart; because that day, I witnessed
God respond to the silent cry of a little child’s heart.
Jodiann Schott- Author, “Nana’s House”
All Nations Christian Center- Spokane, Washington
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