Tuesday, October 2, 2001
Good Morning,
--Isaiah 49:15-16 Yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have
graven thee upon the palms of my hands…
THE SCENE – Friday, September 21, 2001 – 12noon – A restaurant, three fun
filled ladies, having lunch - seemingly without a care in the world. Full of life,
laughing, enjoying God’s world. Across the aisle, two men in their late thirties, one
eating – one just sitting there looking pale and alone.
I was one of the three women who were enjoying life that day. As we
laughed together I looked to my left and the gentleman who looked so alone glanced at us and
just for a moment he let a smile cross his face. He asks if any of us had any Tylenol.
I ask him was he feeling all right and he proceeded to tell us that his wife had passed away
that morning. His eyes filled with tears and the pain I saw in his face was so very
raw. I ask for his name and address and ask if we could pray for him. But even
as I spoke, I knew my words sounded hollow. Two strangers meet; one reveals a deep
hurt or need. “I’ll pray for you,” the other vows, but does she remember?
As I sat in the car preparing to leave the restaurant, I looked at the
small slip of paper where his name was written. I took my pen and wrote his name in
the palm of my hand, as I used to in high school when I wanted to remember a phone number or
homework assignment. “Roby,” I wrote in dark letters.
I prayed for Roby until his name began to fade. Then I opened my
hand to God, asking Him to keep him in the palm of His hands, healing his hurt and covering
his needs. “Palm Prayers” are a special way for me to lift someone up in prayer and
have become a habit for me. Won’t you consider making this a regular habit for
you too?
In His Service,
Melissa
New Brashiers’ Chapel
United Methodist Church
