Threads of Prayer

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Years before my birth, God began weaving the fabric of my life with vibrant threads of prayer. Without those threads, I would not have been born.

In 1929, Nicolai Siemens, the man who later became my father, was imprisoned in Moscow’s dreaded Lubjanka Prison. As a pastor, he awaited deportation to Siberia.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Illinois, his older brother read in the newspaper, “Russia Deports 2,000 Germans to Siberia Camps.” Sensing his brother Nicolai was among them, he felt burdened to pray for Nicolai’s release.

Sixty Christians gathered for a prayer vigil, praying earnestly into the night. Finally my uncle announced, “We can stop now. I have the conviction God has answered our prayers.” God answered that same hour, and my father was miraculously released and reunited with his wife and newborn son. Within days they exited Moscow’s Red Gate on a train to freedom.

Years later, my family immigrated to Blaine, Washington. By 1944, the family had grown to five daughters and two sons. My forty-four-year old mother didn’t want any surprise additions. But her daughters were praying for a baby sister. Soon they saw used baby clothes hanging on the clothesline, announcing my mother’s pregnancy.

As the birth approached, my brothers predicted, “It’s going to be a boy,” and then added, “we already have too many girls.”

“Did you pray about it?” the girls questioned. The boys hung their heads sheepishly.

“We did!” exclaimed my sisters with confidence, “and we prayed for a girl.”  I’m thankful God answered their prayers with my birth!

My life was further woven by the fervent prayers of godly parents who interceded daily for my siblings and me. As a result, I accepted the Lord as a preschooler and learned the value of prayer through family devotions and my parents’ example. Later I married a Christian man, and we raised a son and a daughter who love the Lord.

Then came 1988, a year when big changes impacted my life. Within six months, both my parents died and our firstborn left for college. I felt the loss of my parents’ prayers. But God is faithful. He provided prayer partners through Moms In Touch (now called Moms In Prayer) to pray with me for my children. I’ve continued meeting weekly with mothers, now grandmothers, for twenty-five years.

Prayer also helped me during times of illness, such as my cancer diagnosis and our 17-month-old grandson’s open heart surgery.

Now as a grandmother of five precious grandchildren from preschool to high school, I thank God for the ripple effect of prayer. Not only did prayer change me, but it changed my entire family. My husband and I pray together regularly, and we meet with my extended family of siblings and children to pray for family needs. God has blessed us, and we continue to reap the fruit of my parents’ faithful prayers. As we follow their example, our prayers become the lasting threads woven into the fabric of future generations.

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1 NKJV).

About Lydia Harris

Lydia E. Harris is happily married to Milt, her sweetheart for 48 years. She has two married children, five grandkids, and is the author of a Bible study, "Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting" (AMG Publishers, 2010 release). She's also a tea enthusiast and writes the column "A Cup of Tea with Lydia."

Encouraged? Share this post...

Lydia Harris

Lydia E. Harris is happily married to Milt, her sweetheart for 48 years. She has two married children, five grandkids, and is the author of a Bible study, "Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting" (AMG Publishers, 2010 release). She's also a tea enthusiast and writes the column "A Cup of Tea with Lydia."

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