When Nana Prayed

Recently I received the following email from my nurse friend Vicki:

Yesterday our daughter Natalie and I had a WhatsApp call to talk about Emma, our 5-year-old granddaughter. We had been communicating throughout the morning. Emma started vomiting and had diarrhea since the day before, and even though Natalie had been waking her up in 15 minute increments to try to give her ice chips, jello cubes or electrolyte solution, Emma was becoming more difficult to awaken and less responsive.

We were going to wait just a bit more before calling an ambulance and making the 20-minute journey to a hospital. They are in a new country and we’re not sure if they could stay with Emma once the ambulance came.

When we hung up, I prayed. Serious prayers. “Lord, protect her brain (due to dehydration and fever), keep her from needing the hospital. Like Jairus, I trust you, Lord, to heal our granddaughter.”

Ten minutes later Natalie called with a video call. “The jello cubes worked!” she said “Do you want to see her?” She put the phone to Emma’s little face, her smiling chipmunk cheeks.

Emma said, “Hi Nana.”

“She just ‘popped,’” Natalie said. “The jello worked!” I told Emma and Natalie about my prayer.

“Even if she was at the hospital with an IV, it would take minutes to respond,” I later wrote to them. “Our Lord hears and half a world away, responds to a great need. Thank you, Jesus!”

Vicki included Jairus story. “Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.’ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe’” (Mark 5:22-23, 35-36 ESV).

Thank You, Jesus, that You are still saying those words to us!