I saw my name in my mother's prayer journal...

I have been reading over some of my mother's journals. Most of you probably already know she was a minister's wife, raising the 3 of us through the years, often while dad was traveling and preaching. Now that she and dad are in heaven, I find myself reaching for what they both wrote down through their lifetimes. I have several of her journals and many of my dad's writings, some in book form.

Everything they wrote is dear to me... but when I saw MY name in her prayer journals, many times over, it struck deep into my own heart.

I know that some of her deepest lessons in faith came from trusting God for the 3 of us as her children. Some of the places where I see my name... when I needed God's correction and she needed His help... when she asked for specific guidance in how to handle a struggle, or when she was trying to reach a teenage girls heart and needed His strength ... another place was when I had Spinal Menningitis and the question of whether I would live or die was up to God. She knew that, and she surrendered my life to Him during those days. She told me later that she literally had to 'give me up', to the Lord not knowing if I would live or die.

It's all there, hand written in her journals, there are even some blurs where I have no doubt a tear fell...

The places where my name appears, were added to and crossed out through the years. Much later, our children's names were added to those books.... I can tell you that one of the things all 3 of us found that we missed the most, after they went to heaven, was KNOWING THAT THEY WERE PRAYING FOR US!!! ... I always knew they prayed for us, but when those prayers were gone from this life, we felt such a sense of loss. It's as though our 'safety net' had gone with them...

I'm so thankful that through the years, my mom and I were able to share many of those prayer requests... and the answers.

The reason I share this is to remind each of you, and myself, that OUR prayers for our children matter! They matter to us, to our children, and mostly, they matter to God. He hears the heart of His own, and He responds to those precious prayers, every single one of them!

So don't be discouraged if you haven't yet seen the results you so long for. He is listening, and every desire of your heart as a mom, dad or grandparent is being recorded in HIS book!

But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children's children--To such as keep His covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who [earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on their hearts]. (Psalm 103:17,18 Amplified)