Walkers and Prayers
"The Lord gives strength to his people.”
Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
My husband often comments, "Growing old isn't for sissies!" This even though, as I type this post, Bruce is walking his routine three-mile route through our neighborhood. I had knee replacement surgery last week and am currently using a walker to navigate our house. Without a doubt, I have gained a new appreciation for my sweet Mama who died in 2019 at age 92. Mama was 86 and living alone when she fell and broke her left shoulder, hip, and wrist. After that fall Mama’s walker was always with her.
Mama suffered from debilitating arthritis that made walking difficult even before her fall. She also suffered a series of small strokes that eventually led to vascular dementia and a significant loss of her memory. One day when I visited Mama at her assisted living center, I asked her how I could best pray for her. She shrugged her little shoulders and said, "I don't know." As her memory slipped from us day by day, it became increasingly harder to engage her in any meaningful conversation. That afternoon I switched gears and asked her, "OK, Mama. What is one thing that you pray for yourself?" Mama's quick response shook me as she said flatly, "I pray three times a day that God will give me the strength to walk to the elevators. It's a long way."
"Walking to the elevators" was Mama's way of saying "getting to the dining hall." To remain in assisted living, the residents had to be able to get to the dining area on their own. Like many other residents, Mama used her walker for assistance. Mama knew that to stay in the place she had called "home" for the last four years, she had to keep walking at least three times every day. Arthritis and aging made every step a stab.
I gently reassured her that I would pray for her strength to walk to the elevators. She didn't give me much of a response, so I shifted our conversation to my favorite topic: my granddaughters.
"Mama, Julia had her first piano recital yesterday. Would you like to see a video of her playing the piano?" I asked.
"Who?" Mama responded.
"Julia, Meredith's little girl. She's been taking piano lessons for the last 4 months. Remember, I told you that Kay (my cousin) gave us her piano when she moved out of state. Julia is playing Kay's piano now."
Mama nodded her head as I moved to the edge of her lift chair, eased close beside her, and started Julia's piano recital video on my cell phone. Mama strained to see Julia on the small screen, but after the first few notes sounded, she began singing softly by herself:
"Sweet hour of prayer;
Sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care."
Surprised that Mama recognized the tune, much less remembered the words, I quickly joined her as each one of Julia's single notes rang from the piano. Together Mama and I sang,
"And bids me to my Father's throne
Makes all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By Thy return, sweet hour of prayer."
Mama's smile said it all. She remembered and there was joy in the memory of the ancient truths. Mama found comfort and something familiar in the music and lyrics of that old hymn. So did I as I remembered the countless Sunday evening hymn sing services growing up in a large Southern Baptist church. The hymn's lyrics were woven deep into the fabric of our souls bringing, much like God's Word, comfort, grace, and relief in times of need, distress, and grief. Seasons of our aging process can indeed be seasons of grief, both for the one who is aging and family members.
The Apostle Paul writing to Roman Christians 2000 years ago reminds us, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." (Romans 8:22)
But we never groan alone. Four verses later, Paul reminds the Romans- and us- "The Spirit helps our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express...the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:26-27)
All prayers should begin with a recognition of our need. Mama and King David needed strength and asked God for it. God graciously supplied what was needed. What do you need to ask God for? Do you recognize your need? Will you trust his provision?