Somebody's Prayin'

I have a story to tell -- it has been on my heart for a while now, and for some reason sharing it now just seems like the right thing to do.

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I was leaving work one night, irritated that I had to stay late and miss Zachary's soccer practice. I got on the elevator where another woman was standing -- and being the polite, southern young lady I was brought up to be -- I smiled and said, "Hi, how are you?" She gave a half smile and replied "I'm fine, thanks."

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The elevator doors shut and we rode in silence until I heard her let out a laugh/sigh. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and I was amazed by what she said:

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"You know, its funny. Its almost programmed in us all that when someone asks how are you -- we reply with, I'm fine... But the truth is - I'm not fine. You see, my three year old little boy has just been diagnosed with cancer. And not just any type of cancer, but a brain tumor. An inoperable brain tumor that the doctors have said is guaranteed to take his life sometime within the next four weeks... So to answer your question honestly, I'm not fine...I don't even know what I am."

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And she got off the elevator. That was six weeks ago.

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I drove home that night praying for this woman who is going through so much pain that I cannot even imagine. Should I have said something? And if yes, what do you say? People always ask how I can work in a place that holds so much pain and sorrow for children and their families...I guess that only God knows the true answer to that - after all, he is the one who placed it in my heart to work with these children.

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I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason...that you don't just meet random people by accident. I've spent several weeks trying to figure out what the purpose of me meeting that woman on that day was...and it wasn't until this past week that I have answered that question. You see, I thought that God was trying to teach me a lesson about being thankful for what I had...not getting upset over the little things, i.e. missing one soccer practice, etc. But I really do think that this woman just needed someone to pray for her...and on a daily basis. You see, every time I have thought of this woman - my heart has cried out for her. Every time I have gotten on an elevator at work since that day - I've thought of her. She is on my mind constantly ~ and maybe, if for only that reason ~ I was supposed to leave work late that night, so I could ask a lady how she was doing -- and for the first time in a long time, get an honest answer.

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Therefore I dedicate the song playing now to everyone out there that is hurting for any reason -- and to remind you that people are praying for you, and pulling for you. But most of all -- if you are a child of The King...He is always praying for you as well.

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"For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."

Romans 1:9 KJV