Tami’s Meandering Thoughts

“I am a man of prayer.”
Psalm 109:4

Do you pray about everything? Every little thing? Would you be able to call yourself a “woman of prayer?” I know I talk about the importance of prayer, and I do honestly believe that prayer is vitally important. However, this past weekend I had many opportunities to practice what I preach.

My crazy weekend began on Friday when Miriam and I went on our annual shopping spree. The tradition began last year when we gave Miriam a certificate for her birthday giving her a certain amount of money to spend on clothes. It also guaranteed that she and I would go out to eat at a restaurant of her choice (within reason). We have anticipated this year’s spree since June, and it came at a great time for her to get the school clothes she needed. However, about ½ an hour before we were to leave my eyes began doing the “wiggling/fuzzy thing” that happens right before I get a migraine. I took some medicine and lay down for the ½ hour, and prayed. I did get a headache, but not to the extent of an all-out migraine. And, as I was in the Binghamton mall with Miriam and the headache was getting worse, I continued praying. I desperately did not want our special time together to be ruined by a headache. A few hours later, as the headache receded, I thanked God.

That night we went to bed with an eager dread of the next day when we would drive to JFK airport to bid Brian and Jen goodbye. We planned on spending a little time Saturday, after leaving the airport, going on the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, walking to Ground Zero and just being in lower Manhattan to show the kids “the city.” Well, Friday night Caleb repeatedly woke up vomiting. Since I have difficulty falling asleep once I am woken up, I did not sleep much that night but instead prayed for wisdom to know what to do the next day. As the day dawned Tim and I debated. Do we go and expose Brian and Jen’s kids? They needed a driver, so should only part of the family go? Which part? I would be the obvious choice. However, I hadn’t slept much and was concerned about the safety of me driving all the way down and back on very little sleep. After more praying, we decided to all go. Caleb was fine all day. We thanked God for a wonderful (although emotional) day. Of course, since we packed so much in, we didn’t get home until early morning Sunday.

Sunday morning I woke up early since I still needed to do the power point for the service. While typing, I noticed that my engagement ring was gone. Where in the world did it go? I very rarely take it off. I began praying and searching the car, my dresser, my purse…It wasn’t until after church (a very emotional service for me, as you might recall!! LOL) that Tim found the ring on our bedroom floor. I do recall having a dream of taking off my ring. Apparently I was so tired that I literally removed my ring in my sleep and it fell on the floor. Obviously, I thanked God that we found the ring.

That afternoon Miriam asked to use my cell phone. I hadn’t used it all day, so it was still on my dresser. She got it and quickly noticed that none of the buttons worked. As I examined it, I noticed a small “lock” icon in the corner of the screen as well as a “frozen” time of 4:35 a.m. So, now the question was…What in the world did I do in my sleep??? I definitely needed to get more bed-time!! Again I began praying. A few hours later, after removing the battery and then plugging it in, it began working again just like normal. I still have no idea what or why it locked. However, I did thank God that it now worked.

Well, that was my crazy weekend which aided me in realizing more of what it means to be a woman of prayer. All of the events were little things in the large picture of life. But isn’t that what being a woman of prayer is all about? Praying not just in the life-threatening crises of life, but about every situation we find ourselves in. Throughout all of these circumstances, I am striving to realize God’s ability to intervene as well as his desire to impart wisdom and other needed thoughts and emotions. I often fail, but this weekend God rained opportunities down on me to show me the need for praying through all circumstances.