A Time To Pray

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Being a daughter, wife, mother, now grandmother, I have spent years being the family “gofer.” You know, go for milk & bread, go for parts for the car (you may insert tractor, backhoe, truck, van, etc. here), go for medications for Dad, Mom, go pick up the kids,……years of going. However, as the kids have gotten older, I find rather than being the “gofer” I enjoy waiting in the van and being a people watcher. I am content to sit and wait while someone else does the actual “gofer” duties.

“A time to be born, and a time to die;” Ecclesiastes 1:2A

People watching gives me many opportunities to examine life. And sometimes, I am accused of playing with my imaginary friends (by my daughters), but that is okay.

People’s actions amaze me! Some bring overwhelming joy to my heart. Like watching a new father with a beautiful bouquet and an arm load of balloons. (Yeah, it was that silly grin from ear to ear and that “cocky” walk that gave him away.) Sometimes I’m moved to pray. Like for the elderly couple who were trying to assist each other with their packages while getting into the car. I wonder how many years they’ve shared their lives with each other?

“A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;” Ecclesiastes 1:3

I’ve witnessed hit and runs (and been asked to give a statement to the police) and I’ve sit and watched as young shop lifters were put in a police car. Praying for them, knowing the call they would be forced to make to their parents would be one of the most difficult tasks they would experience in their young lives. Praying, this single act would be the point of turning their lives around.

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” Ecclesiastes 1:4

Last Monday I was buying groceries and was witness to one of the most beautiful expressions of love I’ve ever seen. There was a young couple, late twenties or early thirties. He was handsome. She was beautiful. His eyes were a reflection of the love in her eyes. He appeared to be worried. She looked frightened. He was pushing the shopping cart. She was sitting inside the basket of the cart, with her knees drawn up under her chin like a small child.

As happens when buying groceries, I would see them on one aisle and then meet them again on the next. This would repeat itself and the odd wonder I first felt of seeing a grown woman inside a shopping cart was replaced with awe, because of how much they appeared to care for one another.

Then it happened. We were on the cereal aisle and she said, “I guess we need to find something for me to eat for breakfast.”

He said, “You never eat in the mornings.”

Her simple answer, “They said I would have too,” stirred my emotions in a profound way.

Was she taking some sort of cancer treatment? I don’t know. I only know this chance meeting was forever engraved on my heart. As I write this, I pray that their time to dance is still ahead. That their future will be filled with both love and laughter. But most of all, I pray they know the amazing love of their heavenly Father.

And so it is with all of us.  We have this amazing opportunity to pray for those we come in contact with each day.  Take time to really notice those around you.  Who knows, perhaps God placed them in your path, in order for you to have the honor of praying for a stranger.

Make time today, to pray.

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Last 5 posts by Cheryl

• Points the Ponder - February 25th, 2010
• Simple Compassion - January 10th, 2010
• The Thanksgiving Season - November 16th, 2009
• Hear The Roar - September 12th, 2009
• Random Thoughts on the Journey of Life - August 9th, 2009