MAMA'S PRAYER

    
     The difference of what and where I am today, is the result of tireless and fearless woman who never stopped praying for me. She taught me how to pray.

  As a little girl, I saw a woman praying passionately for someone, but I mostly heard "Lord my children"; whenever I peeped.
I was not always interested in what she uttered, but one thing was more than obvious then- she prayed passionately.
The very common words I was used to whenever I heard her pray was, 'Lord my children', 'protect him wherever he is'- She repeated these words and I wondered if she knew that those words stuck in my mind. She prayed for her little to not caring and unconcerned husband who left her to raise all seven of us alone.
   
  At a point, she pulled us to the altar, she prayed with us. Each one of us whispered a word or two with very little respect to our ages, we prayed. She prayed with even the most stubborn of us; her seven kids. Sometimes, it did not make much sense in my mind when she pushed me into the family circle of prayers and devotion. Putting on my dad's large t-shirt, she put me right in the middle. Everyone else stretched their hands towards me to pray; as mom directed.
  
  Truth is, I was a good girl, actually, each one of us was brought up to be humble and respectful. Mom made sure, none of us veered off the path on which she had put us. I vividly remember that after mom's teary rounds of prayers, I just knew God must have heard her. To me, mom was still a child before God and He will hear every child of His when they pray. Exactly what she prayed for happened for some reasons. Dad returned that same night or early the next day; because mama called him to come home through prayers.

  I always knew that mama loved praying more than playing. She prayed for every little thing we lacked. Sometimes, she hammed some songs after praying. Miracles and answers came from what she had prayed about- I know this because I was always in the room, away from my bullying friends.
 There were times I could not find mama anywhere in the house but in the chamber. I immediately knew her hiding place. Joining her as always, she asked me to pray too. She mentioned- 'Jesus, can hear you, talk to Him'.

 Mama taught us how to pray. In our children bible classes, we stood out because we could pray. But that was a gift and more. We did not really understand the captivating power of prayer. Mama called us to pray every morning and evening. 
To surprise you, mama never stopped this habit I knew when I was little. As an adult in the university and most of my other siblings matured, she still calls to pray with us. Distance brought no change in Mama after all. Days she is not able to reach anyone, she mentions to us that she prayed for us last night.
 Certainly, mama prays each day for us. She does not have to say it everyday, we just know she would. She would pray about our academics, career, friends, competitions, health; the list is unending. She simply prayed for everything else, she simply devotes time for prayer.
Thanks to Mama, we are different, we know who to talk to for everything. She showed us an eternal dad, to replace our late dad. Times that I was scared, indecisive and quiet, she called on time and she knew exactly what to do with me- to pray with me.  Mama's prayer has always made a difference.

  To all mothers, expectant mothers and care givers, don't just pray for your children, pray with them. Don't worry how old or little they are, just hold hands and pray with them. It makes the difference, corrects the ills and directs them to Owner of all things. It creates the difference.
They will remember to pray when they are away, like anything else, it can become a culture, they cannot overlook.
 Mothers, your prayers carry million words encoded in few passionate words uttered. Your prayers move into the future of your children, and the truth is, your prayers work for them. Create a prayer culture for your kids and watch them carry it with them- to talk to God about their fears and strives. 
The point is, mama's prayers always work, because they are not just words, they are love and passion presented right before God. 
I am always grateful to Mama for praying with and for us. Thank you Mama.