Laying on my bed, I turned the day's events over and over in my mind. Several small problems had presented themselves toward the end of the day, and I hadn't quite figured them all out yet. At the fruit market, where I work, Dad had brought in some new varieties of apples that would need to be displayed. No doubt, Mom and I would spend a good part of the next day rearranging displays. Another tiny problem that I focused on was a pen-pal that hadn't written to me in a while. In all honesty, none of the problems were large, and many of them would not even be considered problems. I suppose they were just the thoughts that crowd your mind in those moments before you fall a sleep. Soon, I had dozed into a comfortable sleep.
After several hours of sleep, I began to dream. In my mind's eye I could see my grandmother sitting in a small doctor's office. I could tell that she was scared. A compassionate young doctor sat next to her. I was made to know that his job was to help her in some way. As he performed his duty, I kept my eyes on Granny. She was in pain, but still she refused to utter a word. Because I didn't really know what was going on, I felt that I couldn't do anything to help her.
Once again, I heard the voice give a command, “PRAY FOR YOUR GRANDMOTHER RIGHT NOW!” Without thinking, I began to pray. In fact, my own prayers woke me out of my sleep. For an instant, I thought that perhaps all of this had just been a dream. But now the voice spoke to my very alert mind, “Pray for your grandmother right now!”
Fully awake, I began to pray with great conviction. Still confused about the situation, I woke Dad up and ask him to pray with me. He needed very little information, he seemed to know what was going on. Together we prayed.
The next evening we called Granny to see how she was doing. As she told us about her day's experiences, we couldn't help but marvel. She had spent her day sitting in a doctor's office. The appointment had been scheduled for months, but because of her love for us, Granny had decided not to tell us about it until after it was over. The doctor had to burn off forty-six small spots of skin cancer from off her arms and face. The procedure was done using an acetylene torch, with no type of anesthetic whatsoever. It was, of course, very painful.
Granny confided that she had been very scared. And although she was the one choose not to tell anyone, it was still hard to face going into the doctor's room alone. Tears streamed down my face. I told her just how un alone she had been. I had seen her setting there. Dad and I had prayed for the Lord to give her strength just hours before the appointment. And most importantly, the Voice had been there.
There are times that I will go for quite a while without hearing the Voice, but I keep listening. For, sooner or later, I will hear the Voice again. |
