What do a Doorbell Camera and Prayer Have in Common?
July 12, 2020
Since the stay-at-home orders began in Mid-March, I have adopted a new routine. This routine consists of me stopping whatever I’m doing promptly at 5:30 PM in order to watch the national news. That’s the only news I really avail myself to and it seems to be just enough to keep me informed without being overwhelming or leaving me feeling lost or anxious (most days).
What is interesting to me though, is what items seem to be making the news more and more. For a medium that feeds on fear and anxiety, I am now seeing more news of hope and goodwill.
The news report from Memorial Day particularly struck me and it has stayed with me ever since. At the end of the newscast, the reporter shared an uplifting story to leave us with a positive moment to carry us through until the next day. Perhaps you saw it, or have seen it spread around since.
This particular story focused on a family with an 8-month old immunocompromised son named Lucas. To keep their son safe, this family quarantined at home and had all of their necessities delivered. To ease the process and maintain the highest safety measures, they posted a letter outside their front door for all of the delivery people to read. It included detailed instructions on how to minimize contact and the transmission of COVID 19 as well as why they were taking so many precautions. They shared the story of their son, Lucas, and his health challenges.
Like many households, this family had a doorbell video camera for security. What this young family did not expect to see on their camera; however, was one of the delivery people reading the letter, dropping off supplies for Lucas…and then ending the delivery with a prayer. It is touching. It is heartfelt. It is sincere. It is powerful. And in this case, it is “newsworthy.” (click here for the full story)
There is tremendous power in prayer…and its greatest power is shown when we pray for one another.
“…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV
What really amazed me regarding this news story, though, is how this woman’s anonymous, heartfelt prayer captured the attention of not only Lucas’ family, but of the national news media as well. At a time when our country is facing so much turmoil and hurt and so many unknowns, we need to be reminded that there is tremendous power in prayer. We need to be reminded that prayer is a simple kindness that we can give to anyone…a loved one, a stranger, a group, a nation, a world…at any time. We need to be reminded that prayer can bring love, hope, encouragement and support to any situation or circumstance.
This is the GOOD NEWS. We have a God who listens to our prayers and we have the power of prayer within us…in our hearts.
It is a gift, the gift of prayer, the gift of being able to talk directly to God without barriers or rules or formality. Cherish this gift and use it unabashedly. Pray without ceasing. God wants nothing more than to be in relationship with you and that relationship is rooted in prayer.
We are in a time like no other in our lives. We need to be uplifted. We need connection. We need to hear and see the good in the world. And this story…this 10 second doorbell video clip of a delivery person praying for a young baby gave us all of that. Prayer is powerful, positive, and hope-filled…not just for a family, or a network or a nation…but for all of us.
There is tremendous power in prayer. It brings to peace to an anxious heart. It reminds us that faith is greater than fear. And it changes the lives of both the giver and the receiver. There is tremendous power in prayer.
We need each other in so many ways…not just now during this time of uncertainty, but always. And prayer is a way, THE way that we can support one another completely…without judgement, without contact, without fear. Prayer is positive and encouraging and it builds others up. And when you let someone know that you are praying for them, it puts them and their hearts before God. And that is the greatest gift of encouragement, support and healing that anyone can give or receive.
Thsnk you. Lovely story that I had not before heard. Yes, what I CAN do is pray, mindfully in short bits throughout my day, as I walk + as I think about those on my prayer list, as I listen to the nudge of God’s guidance. I so count on community prayer as well in our church, updated frequently and shared in the newsletter and in our ZOOM services. Prayer provides my anchor to carry on.