My birthday came during a week of gloomy spring weather and too much work. When my prayer group invited me to breakfast at the local café, we decided to invite Ethel along as well. Ethel, 93 at the time, was becoming more homebound, and we thought this would be a good treat for her. Little did we know that we would be the ones receiving the treat.
Ethel delighted us with jokes and told us the stories of people in the café during the entire outing. I’m certain that Ethel has prayed for all of us at one time or another, during sickness, change, or uncertainty. I am just as certain that she has rejoiced on our behalf when children were born, a new job was found, or success was achieved in one area or another.
Ethel’s life was far from easy, but her model of unceasing prayer and full confidence that God answers every prayer has been a tremendous gift to all of us.
This message was adapted from “Powerful Lessons from the Women in Our Lives” by Rose Wood Trenbeath that appeared in the March 2002 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.