I don't understand how I can have tennis elbow since I haven't played tennis in probably twelve years, but our dear friend Mike, who is an excellent physical therapist, has examined me and proclaimed it to be so.
The closest I have been to playing tennis is watching matches of Wimbledon or the Olympics on television for a glimpse of our friend Jamey, who is a tennis official and often officiates some of these televised matches. Clearly, my "tennis elbow" hasn't come from any proximity to a tennis racquet, but the pain generating from my elbow and waking me up in the middle of the night, agrees that the tendon is definitely inflamed.
Last night when I awoke, my elbow throbbing and aching, I thought of my husband's aunt, who is going through a difficult and trying time. I thought of how my pain was limited to my elbow, but her pain was of the heart. There was nothing I could do for her at 3am to ease her pain. . . in fact I don't think there is anything I can do in the waking hours to resolve her problems. There was, however, and is, one thing I could do. I could pray for her.
Isn't it a wonderful thing that the Lord has given us this gift of prayer, and that we can in turn give it to others? Any time, any place, any situation. . .we can pray. It is never out of season, it is never unwarranted. In times of blessing, the prayers of thanksgiving and praise should flow. In times of need, the prayers of supplication and intercession can be lifted up. Whether we know the persons for whom we are prayiing very well, or not at all, we can still pray.
Recently my husband bought us some Swiss Army tools to put on our keyrings, the all-in-one type tool. It is a handy-dandy thing that has various screwdrivers, pliers, wirecutters, wirestrippers all in a tiny little footprint dangling on my keychain. Prayer is lke that. It is the multipurpose tool of life, with actions and purposes that spill over into the next life.
May we often avail ourselves of this "tool," this great gift the Lord has given us in our lives, which can be applied in any situation.
"Wherefore also we pray always for you,
that our God would count you worthy of this calling,
and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness,
and the work of faith with power;
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:11
that our God would count you worthy of this calling,
and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness,
and the work of faith with power;
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:11
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