It was the custom in the local church that on Wednesday evenings a group of women gathered for prayer meeting. Before the meeting, they share their prayer requests. This one week, there seemed to be a lot of requests. The women were all sharing their burdens. Some went into lengthy discussions about their troubles, looking for sympathy from the others. They spoke of how their unfriendly neighbours were troubling them. They spoke of unexpected expenses that they had trouble paying, such as car and house repairs. They spoke of their elderly parents who were needing more care now as they aged with housework and buying groceries. They had so many things that were troubling them and it seemed the prayer meeting message was going to be forgotten as these women kept going on and on about their troubles. One woman, who was new to the group—Mary, by name—sat in the corner listening. No one knew much about her. She looked thin and frail, as though life had not been very kind to her. She had never shared much about her life, and no one knew anything about her past history as she had been there only two weeks. She came a few minutes late and listened to the prayer meeting, and then quickly left without saying a word to anyone, leaving no opportunity to get to know her.
The leader of the group decided to try to draw her out during the meeting and asked her if there was anything that she would like prayer for. Was there any trouble she had in her life? She wanted to give Mary a chance to introduce herself and share some of her life so that the other women would get to know her and warm up to her and make her feel more a part of the group.
Mary meekly looked up. She was not sure what to say, but then tears rolled down her cheeks and she began to share her story.
“Although your trials are really troubling you, I want to share with you what is most important in life. I want to share with you what is real trouble and what is of real value.
“You all have your husbands and children to go home to every evening. You do not have to work for a living. Your husbands provide well for you. I am sure you keep nice and tidy houses as you are good housewives. That is not the lot that the Lord has dealt with me in my life. ‘call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.’ Ruth 1:20
“Many years ago, I did have a husband and I had six handsome sons; one of who is still alive today for whom I request prayers.
“My parents were very well off; and my childhood was surrounded with all the comforts of life. Every wish of my heart was gratified, and I was cheerful and happy.
“At the age of nineteen I married a young man whom I loved more than all the world and the material comforts that my parents had provided. He was not as well off, but he was hard working and provided us with a modest home. He loved the Lord and together we raised our boys to love the Lord and to work hard. The sun never shone upon a lovelier spot or a happier household. The years rolled on peacefully. Five lovely boys sat around our dinner table and a little baby nestled in my arms in the evening.
“One night, around sunset, a fierce terrible storm came up. For many hours the rain poured down incessantly. Morning dawned, but still the rain poured, and the wind blew. The country round us was overflowing. The little stream near our house became a raging torrent. Before we were aware of it, our house was surrounded with water. I managed, with the baby, to reach an elevated spot near the house, where the thick foliage of a few widespread trees gave some protection. From my high spot, I watched while my husband and sons strove to save what they could of our property. Suddenly, a fearful surge swept my husband away and he never rose from the water again.
“My dear friends, no one loved a husband more than I loved him. But that was not the end of it.
“At that moment, my sons realized the danger they were in and decided to abandon the saving of the property and to find a way of escape to save their lives. They were brave young boys and loved the Lord. They were such a help and blessing around home. A mother could not ask for lovelier boys than my boys. I watched their efforts to escape with such agony that only a mother can feel. They were too far away for me to speak with them; but I could see that the little island they were standing on was getting smaller and smaller.
“The swollen river raged fearfully around the huge trees. Dead branches, upturned trunks, wrecks of houses, drowning cattle, and masses of rubbish, all went floating past us. I was safe in my high spot, but my boys were not. My boys then waved their hands to me, and then pointed upwards. I watched as they had given up hope of any escape and they knelt down together in prayer in a circle, all holding on to one another. Then I saw them perish—all perish. Yet that was not the worst of my trouble. My boys died in faith and one day I look forward to meeting my beloved husband and brave boys again when Jesus comes.
“I hugged my baby close to my heart: and when the water rose and touched my feet, I climbed into the low branches of one of the trees and sat there and waited until the hand of God stopped the waters from rising any further. I was saved. All my worldly possessions were swept away; all my earthly hopes were blighted. Yet that was not the worst of my trouble.
“My baby was all I had left on earth. I got two jobs and worked day and night to support him and myself and did my best to train him in the right way. It was not easy because I was gone from home for so many hours of the day and night. As he grew older he made friends with some wicked young boys who drew his heart away from me. He stopped listening to my counsel. He stopped praying and reading his Bible. He stopped attending church. He sneered at my entreaties and agonizing prayers. Then he became fond of alcohol. He left home so that he could live his life as he chose. He did not need to have any rules at home. He did not have to listen to my counsel and encouragement about the blessings there are in following the Lord. At last, one night, while he was severely intoxicated, he took the life of one of the young men at the party. He is now in prison, on death row. I do not know when his life will end. He does not want me to visit him in prison.
“God has filled my cup of sorrow before; now it ran over. That is trouble, my friends, such as I hope the Lord in His mercy will spare each of you from knowing.
“I would rather have troubling neighbours, a broken car, and elderly parents who need help, than the trouble I experienced in life. I am alone, but God is my comfort and strength.”
There was silence in the room when Mary finished speaking. The women were ashamed of how much they had spoken of their trials, which now seemed so insignificant to what Mary had experienced.
The leader broke the silence. “Mary, we welcome you as a part of our church family. We are now your family. And from here on out, when we come to prayer meetings, we will no longer talk of our trials and troubles. We will speak of the blessings that the Lord has given is in the past week. God has blessed each one of us with the beautiful things that Mary has lost. The Lord brought Mary to us to be a blessing for her, to give her a new family for the remainder of her life, but more so for us. To teach us what is important in life. We have all been complaining of insignificant trials, but Mary has shown us what is most important in life. It is not the material goods and comforts of life. It is the blessing of the Lord’s presence in our personal lives and of having a loving family that loves the Lord, so that we can worship together and prepare to be with Jesus in eternity with our loved ones. Let us unite in prayer for Mary’s one lost child while there is still hope.”
This is a lesson to all young children. Your parents are doing their best to raise you in the love of the Lord. They may not be perfect, but what they want from you is perfect obedience to Jesus. They want to be with you in heaven for eternity. It breaks your parents hearts when you disobey them and do not honour the Lord. It is important for you to learn to love the Lord, even if it seems bad things happen to you in life. God has a lesson for you to learn. Trust Him and learn what is most important in life. True happiness is not found in the things of this world. It is found in serving Jesus. Then He will smile on you and one day take you to live with Him in heaven for eternity, both you and your parents.