By Ann Farabee

Be like Grandma

 I wanted to be like Grandma. She is not my real grandma, but she quickly became someone I admired. I had only known her a few days, but the first thirty minutes was enough to know that getting a new role model – even at my age – was forthcoming.

 What made her so special?

 She prays.

I know. Most people pray, right?

Many of us are thought to pray daily to some extent and in some form.

But Grandma – prays abundantly.

Let’s see – prayer. There is asking the blessing. There is the bedtime prayer. We pray with and for the kids and family. Yes, many of us check off that prayer box daily. Grandma does, too.

But – Grandma has her own personal approach when she prays for others.

On this day she stood at the altar of the church as those in attendance lined up wanting her to pray for them. The line was long, but everyone was willing to wait. She prayed powerfully over each person.

*She CARED. As each individual reached out to her for prayer, Grandma grasped their hands in hers, looked at them directly in their eyes, and began to quietly listen to their request. She would nod her head in understanding, making them feel as though their prayer need was the most important  thing in the world. She CARED – and it showed.

*She COUNSELED. At some point – before or after her prayer – Grandma began to counsel. It was godly counsel from her heart and from the Word of God. It was personal counsel based on  personal or family needs. It was counsel based on spiritual battles. It was counsel on living for Christ. It was counsel on giving our lives wholly to Jesus, as we fully trust Him. It was counsel on how God DOES answer our prayers. It was counsel based on God’s Word. Grandma had a spiritual word for each individual before she prayed, even if it was simply, “I understand.”

*SHE CONNECTED. She began to PRAY. No one had to wonder if Grandma was connecting – you could tell. Still holding on tightly to the hands of the one being prayed for, sometimes, it was a whisper. Sometimes, it was much louder than a whisper. But always – it was a prayer from a warrior – which is defined as a brave or experienced soldier or fighter. You see – as a prayer warrior in her 80’s, she had been there. She had experienced the death of loved ones and family members. She had prepared many meals, worked hard for her family, served Jesus with her whole heart, and served in her church well. She understood what those of us in attendance had been through in our lives – and it showed.

Because she understood, she grasped the hands of those in our women’s ministry who stepped forward to join her for prayer. She began to connect with her heavenly father on each person’s  behalf.  Then she would grasp the next two hands – caring, counseling, and connecting with her heavenly father on their behalf. Then she would grasp two more hands and continue to care, counsel, and connect with her heavenly father on their behalf.

I call her a prayer warrior.

I was blessed to be there. Those being prayed for were blessed to be there. I am sure that Grandma felt blessed to be there, as well.

If I didn’t know better, I would say it was magical. Magical means an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source.

Hmm. The difference is that it was not seemingly from a spiritual, powerful source in a supernatural moment. It WAS from a spiritual powerful source in a supernatural moment!

Having grandma there in our midst made it even more special – because she had come to pray with us.The fact that she was in her eighties made it even more special – and made an unforgettable memory.

May we all be like Grandma.

Pray.

Pray again.

Pray without ceasing.