Who’s On Your Prayer List?
I took a walk this morning in my local park and added a little boy to my prayer list. He looked to be about four and appeared to be with his grandmother.
I’ve never had children and have always believed I wasn’t very good with them. But I enjoy them and get a kick out of talking to and being around them. I’ve had a few call me “Grandma” over the years and some do seem to genuinely enjoy my company. So maybe I’m not as inept as I’ve thought.
At any rate, this morning there was a little boy. When I passed him the first time just off the track I was circling, he smiled, very sweetly and amiably. He was just as cute as it’s possible to be. By the time I was set to pass him the second time, however, I could see he was no longer smiling. I have no idea what happened between the first and second rounds, but it was clear that something had.
His grandmother had him posing for pictures out in some long grass, and he wasn’t having it. He wouldn’t look at her. He was turned partially away from her. He certainly wasn’t about to smile for her.
“Look up,” she said. “Smile!” No go. He did neither.
I stopped. The boy looked up at that. “Would you like a picture of the two of you?” I asked her.
“Oh, yes. I would, thank you. That would be wonderful,” she replied, and handed her phone over. The youngster had come alive, was now looking my way. His grandmother joined him and both turned toward me.
“What’s your name?” I asked the little guy. “Daniel,” he said. Then he straightened up to his full (approximately three-foot) height. “My full name is Daniel Jefferson Jackson, though,” he informed me quite grandly. (This is not his real name, but it is something similarly strong and manly and impressive!)
“Wow!” I said. “Daniel Jefferson Jackson, smile up.” And he did. I took several pictures, it was determined by the two of them that they were adequate, and I said good-bye and left them.
But I haven’t been able to get the sweet boy out of my thoughts. I haven’t the faintest idea what his story is, what circumstances he’s dealing with or will deal with. But I do know that he’s a precious child of God and is loved supremely by his Creator. There are big plans for that boy, of that I’m certain, because there are big plans for all of us. And I feel impressed to pray for him. He can certainly use all the help he can get, I don’t doubt. We all do. This is a complicated, messy, difficult, and – yes, thrown in – joyous life we’re engaged in. But we need direction and encouragement and support whoever and wherever we are, through whatever is happening to us.
So Daniel Jefferson Jackson is now in my prayer rotation. I’ll be remembering him daily. And I’m eager to someday learn what my prayers meant to and for him. I may never see him again in this life. But prayer makes a difference. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).
I claim this promise for young Daniel. My prayer is for blessings upon him; protection, direction, guidance, and salvation for him. I believe that he will receive these things. And I can hardly wait to see him again in the kingdom.
Who’s on your prayer list?
8 Comments
Beth
Love this, and yes, prayer does make a difference when we sincerely ask because we believe! 💗
ckarlstrom
There you go! My belief exactly – thank you so much!!
Nancy Hoppe
Thank you Carolyn, I believeyour prayers will be answered, God bless you for letting Him use you. This was a good reminder to add strangers to our prayer list. I have prayed for strangers, but usually just once or a few times when I was impressed to. Now I want to be more mindful and keep them in my prayers.
Carolyn Karlstrom
Yes! Who knows but that we’re the only ones praying for them!! Best to keep it up once impressed. 🙏🏼
Cindy
I don’t know a lot of the people I pray for, or their names for that matter. The important thing is that God knows each of them intimately.
Every time mom and I pass an ambulence we ask the Lord to be with that person and the medics and to intercede on their behalf physically and to save them in His kingdom. Whenever we go to town, which is seldom, I ask the Lord to fulfill His promise to not only powerfully fill me with extra of the Holy Spirit and His power but to increase the atmosphere of heaven that He has promised that His people may, if they choose, walk in in this world, so that even the prople that walk by me in the stores will be blessed by that atmosphere. He tells us freely you have received, freely give. I may not have personal contact with many people but the Lord can impact the lives that even briefly pass through the atmosphere He inhabits.
Who’s on my prayer list????? everyone and anyone I pass by and especially those I am fortuneate to actually meet: in addition to those I know and love.
Thanx for the article! 🙂
Carolyn Karlstrom
Thanks, Cindy, for your comments. I, too, pray for folks I don’t know. And animals. And situations. There’s so much fodder for prayer, isn’t there?
Sherri
At the moment, my cousin Bart is on my prayer list. He just finished 6 weeks of radiation in NYC after cancer surgery and is back home in DC with his wife and 3 young sons. His brother passed away a few years ago from pancreatic cancer, so his entire family is also on my list. They’ve had such tragedy in their lives, and yet continue to be positive and filled with grace. I feel fortunate to have all of them in my life.
ckarlstrom
I’m so sorry to hear about Bart. I’ll pray for him also, along with the rest of the family. Please keep me posted as to how he does. Life isn’t easy, is it? Thanks so much for your comment.