Never underestimate the power of a praying mother.
Hannah prayed for her son Samuel, and her words resonate for me today. In 1 Samuel 1:27 we read:
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him.
I am sure my mother spent a lot of time in prayer, between my brother and me, over the years. Our lives have not been smooth journeys, and I am sure she worried plenty and those knees got a workout. But she remained steadfast and faithful, and hopefully, at the age of 95, she feels her prayers were answered.
So what does this have to do with Father's Day, which we are celebrating today? After all, fathers are very important, and they deserve a day to be celebrated and honored. And I had a wonderful father for the first years of my life - none better. People still remember him as an involved, active parent, a fun guy to be around, a ready help in time of trouble, a great person all around. It is a comfort to know that he is remembered this way, especially since over the last 50 years, my memories of him have faded somewhat.
