Beautiful Hands

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

Recently I asked a “handful” of friends to put their “hands together” in prayer for me and my son. I only told a few ladies, not that more would not have prayed but it was such a sensitive subject and I was so out of control of my emotions that I could not speak about it. I want to share with you the power of prayer. God has had mercy upon all of us during this time of prayer. I would like to share the Mercy of the Lord with you. To protect my son, and not to make this article Tooooooo looooooong to read. I am not going to discuss all the details & to keep this simple.

We are not sure what really happened to my son, but he sorta had an anxiety breakdown about 4 weeks ago. This was TOTALLY not his normal self at all. He is a very loving, gentle young man. He had really began to show The Fruit of the Spirit in his love for others and putting others first including his brothers. God had really done a Supernatural Work of Salvation in him this year. So we do not fear for his eternal life. I say all this so you have a basis to know just how different the “break down” made him.

He has always had an interest in Law so he got some books at the library. I long time ago quite reviewing his reading material as he is a speed reader and I would never get anything done if I did. Not to mention that by 11th grade he is well able to discern what is good and bad. Needless to say, he got this book on law and it had very detailed cases of domestic violence. He quit reading the book and was so shook up that he begged me to pray with him almost hourly. He read his Bible, prayed, sang. Just trying to walk in the Spirit. Yet this info was so disturbing. I can not discount the fact that I feel satan took full advantage of my son’s vulnerability at that time and sifted him without ceasing. He could not do his school work. He was unable to do his chores. He wanted only to be with us (the family) continually night and day he would not leave the room we were in. He lost all desire of other things on the farm. He did not want to take his driving lessons etc. It was so debilitating. This was VERY scary to me as a mom. To see my normally VERY capable young man, turn to an incapable little child. He was not rebellious or angry. He cried about his problem. But we were all stunned. Our son when he was two had cancer and went through intense treatment for 2 ½ years and we thought perhaps his cancer was back. Whatever it was, it was defiantly something really really bad. He then went to washing his hands constantly. He began to pick up trash of the ground/floor down to little tiny specks. Just obsessed with his hands. He did not want to give anyone the cold he had at the time. He carried things in his arms or by his pinky finger. He shook hands oddly. And so on…………

I cried many nights on my pillows. Prayed many mornings in the quiet hours alone. This was a HUGE change and a HUGE burden. What could we do? He had his yearly cancer check up coming within a few weeks so we held out for it and thought we would talk to the Doctors then. Sunday a lady caught me before we left church (we did not want our son made fun of or be in an awkward situation so we left). She hugged me and asked what was wrong. I began to cry and she held me while I told her that something was terribly wrong with our son. She said she would pray. I asked her to tell two other ladies I knew would pray too. I talked with a friend out of town and she was praying. We did talk to one of our Pastor/Friends. And he gave us very good counsel. He talked with Samuel and gave him very encouraging counsel. It was the first reprieve we had. His next day (Monday) was better. Tues. & Wed were ok. Thursday was his appointment at the Doctors in Memphis. It was a long day. The Doctors there were very alert to our son’s situation and immediately thought he should see a psycho and be put on med. We said absolutely no. And eventually the social worker let it drop & she would check in with us in a month. I say all that to share the answers to prayer I saw. Now I do not know what these ladies prayed and even some may have fasted on our behalf. Words can not even begin to express my gratitude of the time spent in prayer on my behalf!!

1. Safety in travel to & from Memphis.
2. Complete calmness in the three days prior to Dr. visit. Our son seemed to be less troubled.
3. His lab results showed he is still in remission!
4. He was checked as well for brain tumor—good report there too.
5. We asked for discernment in what they may suggest as treatment for our son. This was the hardest trial. Yet I saw answered prayers their too. God gave us peace in the midst of the world’s view.
6. We were able to take the planned overnight trip after that, my son did very well.
7. I am assured in my heart that God is in control and that He loves my son more than my husband and myself.
8. I was afraid I would be just a basket full of tears!! I usually cry when I am there. Yet God just dried up the river! That was so unusual!
9. We were sustained in the entire day going here and there to all the different clinics and tests we had to do.
10. Our son share much about God and The Gospel as he explained his problem. That was neat!
11. Our son told the social worker in very kind but firm terms he did not want to be seen alone. Anything she had to say could be said in front of us his parents.
12. We are home and still working through this issue but we KNOW we are not alone!!

How does one put a “price tag” on prayer?
Thank you to each person who went to the Throne on our behalf!