Submitted by Robin Wiley

Enjoy this “What prayer can do: Power in our day-to-day-lives” story from the latest GuidePosts Magazine (April/May 2022), submitted by John Pohorylo, Enfield, CT.

Canon, my grandson, had always been a good student. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and his school switched to remote learning. Without any classes in person and with minimal sport practices or games for more than a year, playing video games took over more and more of Canon’s time. Now that things were finally opening back up, his grads where suffering.

“I just don’t know how to get through to him,” his mom told me.

I was worried too. It seemed as if every time I went over, Canon was glued to his computer, headphones on, joystick in hand. He played all kinds of games, and his friends played too, meeting up with him online.

Back before Covid, Canon’s baseball coach had taught the team three rules for a good life: Be a good person, be a good student and be a good athlete – in that order. Canon’s new priority seemed to be something else: being good at video games.

Nancy would know what to do, I thought one afternoon before taking a nap. Since my wife’s death a few years earlier, I’d really missed her advice. She always knew how to handle any situation.

With Nancy gone, I asked God how to help my grandson. As I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes, a word came to me: Juggle.

I woke up with the word still struck in my mind. It seemed like a hint. Juggle. That gave me an idea.

The next time I went to visit, I sat Canon down for a talk. “Can you juggle three baseballs?” I asked.

Canon laughed. “You know I can.”

“Think of those three baseballs as your coach’s life rules,” I said. “Now there’s a fourth ball – video games. How well can you juggle now?”

Canon frowned, then broke into a grin. “That’s a great visual, Papa,” he said “I never thought about it that way. I guess I can’t.”

Since that day, Canon’s grades have improved – so has his juggling. 

RW Comments: I loved this story about prayer, and I can see many of our own church families going through the same struggle with their kiddos. They are so tethered to their digital devices they rarely look up to engage in the world around them. Prayer works people! Keep talking to God about strengthening your family. Listen to the low and soft voice spoken to your heart. It’s God speaking to you!

Prayer:

Thank you Father God for always listening, in good times and bad. Help me to check-in with you every day to receive your grace and blessings. Watch over my precious family and help us to grow stronger together in our faith and in our love for each other. In Jesus’s precious name – Amen!