By Gina Caswell Kelly
I have several people in my life that I pray for daily. Of course my family and friends. But there are others who have been placed on my heart for one reason or another. Many of them are students I have become aware of due to being on the sidelines taking pictures for several years. As each class graduates, the next one needs prayer just as much. I have had them on my windshield in dry-erase marker for some time (although they are not right now due to cleaning my windshield!) That is a trick I learned from the guy I call my spare son. Barrett always has notes on his windshield in dry-erase so he can remember all he needs to get done throughout the day. I just took his idea and used it for my prayer list.
I drive past the high school two or three times a day every weekday. As I drive past, I pray for all those kiddos. The kids in my family, my “windshield kids,” and the teachers. There are a couple of kids who have just really been burning a hole in my heart lately. I found myself yelling one of their names out loud to God this morning as I drove by. I mean seriously looking up in my car and yelling this child’s name. As if God was not hearing my prayer for him.
Here is the deal with prayer. God hears our prayers. God is fully capable of answering each and every prayer just exactly how we want it and in the timeline in which we wish it to be answered. But, that is not always how it works. In fact, I would say most of the time that is not how He works. I have long said that if God had a business card, it would say “I change hearts.” But, hearts have to want to be changed. He gave us all free will to choose to follow Him or not. And, those are the only two choices. You are either choosing to follow God, or you are not. He does not force His will on you.
So many of these windshield kids come from homes where the name of God is never spoken unless it is used in a curse. So many of these windshield kiddos don’t hear anyone tell them they are loved on a daily basis. So many of these kids don’t have a clue there is a God who truly loves them and has a plan for their lives. So many are so lost in this world that seems to be growing more evil with each day.
So, yes. I will continue to pray for these kids. I will pray that their hearts will soften. I will pray that someone will cross their path each day that will share God’s love. I will pray that they will recognize the warmth of God’s love in their own life. I will continue to tell them all, each time I see them, that I love them. When they leave my presence, I want them to feel better about themselves and maybe, just maybe, feel a little bit of the love of God while I am there.
Pray for our children. As hard as we are all praying for rain right now, double that and pray that hard for our children. It is absolutely the only way to make a difference!
