Prayer Changes the Lives of Children

The only thing I know about him is he was a prayer warrior, and his prayers changed my life forever. He wasn’t my grandfather, not really. We weren’t kin. Truth be told, I can’t describe his appearance, and I don’t know his name.

Grab half-a-cup of coffee, and I’ll share my story. I promise to be brief.

I was born with a congenital birth defect, a paralysis of my bottom lip. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio afforded me access to Dr. Longacres, one of the world’s foremost experts in plastic surgery. His skillful hands performed a surgery he designed for me when I was fourteen.

For days following surgery, I presented a gruesome sight. The nurses denied me access to a mirror the first ten days. A random, albeit insensitive, hospital visitor asked if I was the victim of a horrendous car crash.

My mom handled billing and insurance for a group of ophthalmologists not far from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. During my weeks in the hospital, she was unusually but understandably quiet at work. When an elderly patient asked about her missing smile, Mom briefly explained about my surgery.

The patient returned one year later for his annual eye exam. “How is your daughter?” he inquired. My Mom was confused saying “My daughter?” He said, “Yes, last year she was recovering from surgery, and I’ve prayed for her every day since my last appointment.

Later my Mom shared the conversation with me at dinner. One year of prayers from a total stranger! I was dumbfounded. Before going to sleep, I knelt beside the bed and committed myself to a life of prayer. My life has never been the same.

Do you have a list of questions you want to ask when you get to heaven? I have only one. “Lord, where is he? Where is the man whom I call my praying grandfather?”

Prayer changes the lives of children.

 Guest blog by Sherry Schumann, Co-Director for the Prayer Ministry for Christian Grandparenting Network

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