APRIL 16, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Linda stared out of her bedroom window as her mother came into the room and sat down on the bed. “How are you feeling?” Mom asked as she stroked her forehead. “I think you still have a fever.”

“Why do I have to be sick today?” moaned Linda. “I wanted to help my Sunday school class with the puppet show for the Lentor Residence where the elderly people stay.” Her lower lip quivered a little.

“And it makes you feel bad that you can’t go, doesn’t it?” said Mom. Linda turned over. “Yes, it does,” she answered. “My teacher said we would be doing it for the Lord, and I really wanted to help. Now I can’t.”

“I know, dear,” said Mom, “but you can pray that the Lord will use the puppet ministry to bless the elderly in Lentor Residence.” Linda thought about that. “It just doesn’t seem the same,” she said with a sigh.

“Maybe not, but...” After thinking for a minute, Mom stood up. “I’ll be right back,” she said and left the room, returning in a few minutes with a strand of pearls. Mom knew it was Linda’s favourite piece of jewellery.

“There’s a very important part of this necklace that you can’t see,” Mom said.

Linda looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Well, what do you see when you look at this?” asked Mom. Linda took the necklace.“The pearls,” she said after examining it. Mom nodded. “That’s what everyone notices, but look here.” She carefully pulled two pearls apart to reveal the thin white thread holding them together. “No one notices this plain and simple thread, but without it, my necklace would fall apart.”

Still puzzled, Linda looked at the pearl necklace and then at her mother. “Okay,” she said uncertainly.

Mom smiled. “Prayer is like this thread,” she explained. “It’s behind the scenes, but it’s very important in all we do for God.” Mom fingered the pearls in the palm of her hand. “Even though you can’t go with the others to Lentor Residence, you can have a very important part in their ministry.

You can ask God to use the puppet show to help the elderly understand the Bible lessons taught.”

Thought: How often do you pray?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for today’s reminder that I can be a “prayer warrior”. I know although that is not something everybody notices, but You do because You hear each prayer. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.