PRAY FOR MAMA!   DO 2742 12/91
--Dad's Plea to the Family!
--"God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you!" (1Sam.12:23).

         1. Just think, for the first five years of the Family, we didn't have any of these little dictation machines and tape recorders that can just so effortlessly take down what I say as fast as I can say it! When we first got started, Mama had to take it all down in shorthand. That's all we had back then, and she took all of those early Letters down by hand, whether it was in the day time, class time or the middle of the night! She can actually write in the dark, God bless her!
         2. That's a good thing (Dad weeps), because now she can't see. It's still easy for her to write in the dark. A lot of times when we're lying there in bed and we're supposed to be asleep, and I'm trying to keep very quiet so she can sleep, she'll grab her notebook and I can hear her scribbling some note in the dark, something that she thought of that she needs to tell someone about. She was able to write in the dark like that long before she went blind.
         3. I hope you pray for her. I've never seen or known anybody in this whole world who ever took their affliction so cheerfully and without discouragement, with never a complaint, never a murmur, always on top of it, always cheerful, always praising the Lord! You who work close to her know that's true. She doesn't lament her loss of sight. In fact, I lament it more than she does! She's always having to encourage me.

Do You Pray for Mama?

         4. Well, I wanted Mama to be in this meeting too, but even when her eyes are closed, the light still bothers her eyes. Also, I think she's a little embarrassed. She feels like she makes others suffer when they see that she's unable to see them.
         5. Do you pray for her? I have prayed all that I can pray, I've wept all I can weep. She's convinced that the Lord's going to heal her. I don't know anything about Mama now that would cause the Lord to possibly withhold healing. I can't think of any woman on Earth who's more willing and yielded and cheerful and faithful, who encourages everybody else, even when she's blind. She just laughs when she makes a little mistake or when she stumbles, whereas I'd probably sit down and cry. I've always been a crybaby.
         6. I weep for you, I weep for the Family. And I think I've wept more for Mama than almost anyone. Sometimes I've even wept for myself. I think if it hadn't been for you all to hold up my hands and help me, encourage me and keep me going, if I didn't know you were dependent on me and feel that you needed me and maybe couldn't do without me for a little longer, I probably would have asked the Lord to just take me Home.

What Is He Trying to Teach You Through Mama's Blindness?

         7. (Dad speaks into the intercom:) Mama, I love you! God bless you! I don't think Mama could stand any improvement except her eyes. I guess the Lord must be teaching her something. (Mama replies over the intercom: It's been well worth it! I've learned so much, and am still learning!)
         8. Well, it comes to me quite clearly that she's not necessarily enduring this affliction for her own sake anymore. Once upon a time she did have a few things to learn--not to try to do everything by herself, not to try to read every report by herself. But I think she's learned those lessons now. And I think the Lord is now trying to teach you something. What is He trying to teach you by Mama's blindness?
         9. I used to think I deserved all that's happened to me. I have no objections, I know I'm at fault. But when I would ask the Lord to forgive me and I'd get things pretty well straightened out with Him, and I'd still be sick, it dawned on me that He was doing it for your sake, to teach you to pray, to get you to get down to business with God. You all love me so much, what more could He do to get you to pray than to make you feel sorry for me? I always did like sympathy, and now I'm getting a whole world of it! But it's sure doing me a lot of good. Your prayers have been answered, thank the Lord! I never have that terrible bowel trouble any more, I don't have that back pain any more, I hardly ever have that side pain any more unless I do something wrong.
         10. Well, no sweeter person than Mama was ever born. I never knew a better person. She is a saint! If there was ever a saint that needs to be canonized, she's it! After all, she had to be to put up with me all these years! (Mama over the intercom: Honey, you've been nothing but an absolute blessing! Your great love covers my multitude of sins!) Well, there may have been a few little rough spots along the way, but I've been polishing away on her for so long, everything is now shining bright and polished, and there's nothing rough any more. TTL! She has really learned. So when you're praying for her, remember you're praying for a saint!

Please Pray for Mama!

         11. So please do pray for her, that the Lord will relieve her of her blindness as soon as possible so she can enjoy life a little more and not have to grope her way around the house by reaching out and feeling the walls and doors and furniture and things like that. She can catch a little flicker or glimpse here and there, but it would sure be a lot easier on her if she could keep her eyes open and use them more.
         12. It's not because she needs to be blind for her sake any more. I think even Saint Paul said something like that, that his affliction was for others' sake (2Cor.1:6), and he had his "thorn in the flesh," as far as we know, till the day he died (2Cor.12:7-10). Apparently it was some kind of a harassing demon. Some people think it was his eyes, and that he was nearly blind. He said, "You would have plucked out your own eyes for me" (Gal.4:15). I told Mama once, "I think I could stand to do without one of mine, at least."
         13. She really does need your prayers. It would be a lot easier for her if she could see. She has to grope her way to the bathroom, she has to grope her way in and out of the bedroom and to the door, mostly just by feeling what's in front of her. So please pray for her. (Weeps.) It would make life a lot easier for her if she could see. Maybe she's still blind for your sake, to make you pray.
         14. Have mercy, Lord! Have mercy on these Thy people, Lord, that they will not sin in failing to pray for her! Thank You Lord! If you won't pray for her for her sake, pray for her for my sake. I'd be a lot happier if she could see again. We used to spend many happy times together when she could see.
         15. If the whole Family could see her and know what a trial it is, that she has to feel her way around, and sometimes will bump into the door or bump into this or that, I'm sure they'd pray more for her. Would you please pray for her for my sake, because it would make me a lot happier if she could see again? Please do!--Not only for her sake, but for my sake, too.
         16. If the Lord wants her to be blind until the Rapture, well, the Lord knows, but I certainly hope she doesn't have to be. I think that now that she has learned a few lessons, she could accomplish a lot more if she could see again.--If she could be trusted not to get back to reading every letter and every word and every single report. But I think she's learned those lessons. So please pray earnestly for her. Amen? Thanks! I love you!--Dad.
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Postscript from Mama:

         17. (Mama: This has been one thing that's been pretty hard on Dad, not being able to share many things with me in the last several years, like being able to enjoy our walks together, watching videos together, having me read to him, going out together, etc. Of course, I've felt quite bad about that, but have consoled myself that at least it's helped me to get a lot of work done because I've had to pretty much stay put in one place most of the time. But Dad has certainly been really sweet and really precious and very cheerful through it all, God bless him!)


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