PRAY AND BE HEARD

Then he said, “God, please don’t be angry,
but let me speak just once more…”
Genesis 18:32

As we make plans for July 4th, my thoughts turn to my stepfather. His devotion to this country and to the family he found when he fell in love with my mom were unmistakable. I was almost forty when his final illness took hold. At the time, I was heartsick at the thought of my mom being widowed once again, and I was tempted to abandon the certainty of my prayers. Still, when Bill lay dying, I rekindled my faith in God’s ever-present willingness to listen…

While I stood at Bill’s bedside, I acknowledged that emphysema had transformed this muscular carpenter into a shadow of his former self. I prayed and asked the God of Abraham to watch with me for a while. Like Abraham, as soon as I had God’s attention, I began negotiating.

First, I asked for relief. My dad’s breathing was terribly labored. “Take away his anxiousness over every breath,” I begged. When I felt assured of that much, I went on. I requested strength for my mom and the rest of us to remain present to him for as long as needed. Because I knew God was listening, I continued. This time I set limits on the “as long as needed” part. “If he was my son, I would have him home by Easter!” I challenged God to hear and to respond to my prayer just as God had done for Abraham.

Just a week later, we walked with my stepdad through his passing. It was the night before Easter that I apologized to God for my insolent and demanding prayer. I also thanked God for taking my father home. In spite of my tears, I smiled as I promised to pray with the conviction of Abraham many more times before God and I meet face to face.

Loving and Patient God, thank you for listening and for responding with more than I could ever hope for.

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