Shaken from the Past

My jaw dropped yesterday. I was sitting at my computer keyboard. Just before turning it off and leaving the office I clicked on the “Send Receive” of the Email program. Tada – one new email popped into view. I couldn’t believe my eyes – it was from my Aunt Annie in Brooks, Alberta. It has been a long time since I have been this surprised. Let me explain.

My Aunt is an Octogenarian and most Octogenarians DON’T START sending emails… or pick up a computer and use the wireless features in a seniors home – which she was doing as she clicked the Send button. Many of the Octogenarians that I meet have to deal with finding their glasses and their missing shoe. No I am not stereo typing Octogenarians – it is just a fact.

Computers and many Octogenarians are like me and a court room – I know there is a judge and a guard or two – along with a few other official looking people – but I am not comfortable being there.

Let me introduce my Aunt Annie to you – she is amazing! I shouldn’t be surprised to get an email from her – she has always been on a cutting edge in her life. At a very early age as a young lady she launched out with another young lady and took a ‘pastorate’ in a rural setting in Manitoba. That was a giant leap for young ladies of their day. Then upon meeting a handsome young man named Max – she took another giant leap and became a homemaker, farm manager, hired man(oops hired woman), amateur archeologist, midwife to all kinds of animals, care giver to a growing family, and finally gerontologist as a care giver to her own mother.

Added to that, she was and is a prayer warrior. Everyday she spends time with the Lord.

The last notation in my memory – that of prayer is how I know her best. For a large period of her life, and mine, when I was in my teen and twenties years –she prayed more than anyone. She prayed for her kids and all her nieces and nephews – and for that matter any young person that was traveling through that stage of their lives.

How did I know that she prayed? She told me indirectly and directly. She advised me – directly and indirectly as well. You see there was a “call of God” on my life. I ran from it and she prayed for it. When I finally stopped running from God and turned to him – there was an immediate knowledge that Aunt Annie had been involved in influencing this decision by prayer.

The story is too long to tell in this short column. It would take 62 years and 303 days to get it all out. I think that as her oldest and probably wildest nephew she learned to pray early. But then she also has a son, my cousin and friend, that stretched her prayers a wee bit too.

Her brother and sister-in-law kept her informed of how she could pray for me and my siblings. You see – they prayed too. I didn’t have a chance!

Her prayers shook me loose from a past that wasn’t good – to a future that was possible.

I am not afraid to become an Octogenarian. If God should direct it my Octogenarian years are only 17 years and 62 days away. Aunt Annie helped me to see that older is better – not bitter.

What an amazing lady she is. Ooops – I should say – addressing her directly – What an amazing lady YOU are… Aunt Annie! I know that you are likely on the 3rd floor of your building right now reading this. Because they don’t have the wireless available in your room yet – you are plunked down at their computers.

I know it took some effort to get there – this Octogenarian level of life. Aunt Annie – thank you for not giving up on me. Thanks so much for praying all of those prayers for all of these years. I know that God has a huge crown in heaven waiting just for you.

Today I am praying for you and Uncle Max – may these next years be the best that you have ever had.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
(the Nephew you prayed for…)