My Aunt Leona

 

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.
—Colossians 1:9 (NLT)


As a young child, my grandfather’s sister, was important to me. She is one of my earliest memories. Although I learned about God at home and in church, it was my great Aunt Leona through her times of prayer, who instilled in me the desire to know her Savior. It wasn't that my grandfather, Big Tom, or my grandmother, Gigi, didn’t talk to me about God. It wasn’t that my parents never shared Jesus with me. They all did. Big Tom wrote songs and sang about Him. I sang with Him until he died with I was twelve. Gigi had a generous heart. She probably gave me too many things. Daddy quietly lived his faith. Times I broke his heart, I was drawn to repentance with just one look. Mother read Bible stories and often sent me to find my own stick when I needed correction. Each person drew me to Jesus. But Aunt Leona taught me something that has changed my life. She taught me about the power of prayer.

When I was a toddler until I was almost four, Aunt Leona kept me many times for my working mother. Even though I was so young, I distinctly remember two things about her. The first one was in her kitchen. She would place a huge pottery bowl in front of me on the kitchen table, fill it with hot water and dish detergent. She’d put me in a chair and hand me an egg beater. I would turn and turn that handle until fluffy white froth poured over the edge of the bowl and streamed down onto the vinyl covered table. Laughing, she'd pick me up and hug me so tight. My other distinct memory was Aunt Leona putting me on the couch in her living. She’d give me a picture book of the twelve disciples to look at, go into the front bedroom, and commence praying. How Aunt Leona prayed! She cried; she sang; she rejoiced! I had no desire to leave the couch. Her words, often not understood, were full of a joy that reached my heart. When finished, she’s return from her bedroom, face beaming. 

Her radiance is what always comes to my mind. Although her eyes were red and slightly swollen, the joy and smile on her face, were wonderful to this young child. Hair tousled, apron askew, she'd smooth out the wrinkles, settle down with me on the couch, and I would crawl up in her lap for a Bible story. I heard about the disciples in the book she’d given me. I heard about people of faith in the Bible. At such a young age, I didn't really know what that meant or who they were, but her voice was soft, peaceful, and filled with love. She drew me into a safe cocoon of peace and safety. The desire for that peace she had became instilled in me. She always brought it to me after her prayer times. As I grew older, I wanted to know the person she talked to. At the age of seven, I asked Jesus into my life. Through the years, I grew to realize the peace Aunt Leona had brought to me after each prayer time with Jesus could be my own.

Through the years, I know that many have prayed for me. But I also know now that those times my Aunt Leona prayed, she wasn’t only praying for things beyond the grasp of my young mind. She was praying for me—a little girl— to one day be filled with a spirit of wisdom and revelation in my knowledge of Jesus. Each time the Holy Spirit prays in me, changes me, pours through me, I know it’s because my great Aunt Leona faithfully prayed for me.

Your prayers are never forgotten, but held by His love, to one day bring about His purpose in the life of the person you have brought before Him. The memory of my Aunt Leona still inspires me to inspire others. The Holy Spirit draws me to pray and instill the miracle of His unconditional love and grace and purpose into my family, my life group, my friends, and anyone He brings into my life. If I don’t pray for each person the Holy Spirit entrusts to me, they may never realize His power and potential in their life.

Who are you praying for? Don’t ever stop praying for the Holy Spirit’s revelation of God’s purpose and power in their life. God hears every prayer. Your prayer soars through the years, bringing about His purpose in the life of the person God has entrusted to you.