Prayer Persistence
In the 1980s
when there were mere feet
between neighbors
I had a persistent prayer
for a home off-island
on 10 acres surrounded
by pine trees
and a home in the middle
with no close neighbors
it didn’t happen then
but God heard my introverted
nature-loving heart
here I sit in the early morning
on the edge
of December 2020
in the home we designed
and built
in 2008
on 10 acres
surrounded by pine trees
I prayed fervently
for the miracle of recovery
for Mallory
and God’s hands
orchestrated that miracle
my car is my prayer chamber
no radio for me
every day on my way to work
I pray a prayer of thanksgiving
for the miracles
-those we know about
and those that God performed
without our knowledge
to spare us the pain –
for each of my children by name
and their spouses and friends
for their marriages
that they find
the right mate
and stick together
for my grandchildren by name
that they are guided by God‘s hand
for my dad that the right mate
will come alongside him,
that he will know
without a doubt
yes, with certain clarity
when the right one appears
and he doesn’t settle
for a loneliness placeholder
for Briar and us and our families
for our health and safety
and our jobs
that keep us fed and sheltered
for all the blessings we enjoy
though we deserve none
and for forgiveness
we need it so much
I know the power of persistent prayer
Common Threads 