Sometimes it takes a long time. A very long time.  I had to wait 41 years for my prayer to be answered.

For all those years, on Sundays I attended worship without my husband.  I joined the church choir so I didn’t have to sit by myself, and that brought me comfort. Then the miracle happened. I was starting my deaconess student field work at a new church. One Sunday, out of the blue, Joe said, “Hold up a minute I’m going with you.” After over four decades of asking my husband to attend church with me, it finally happened. I remember walking into the church with tears in my eyes and whispering to the pastor, “Joe is here!”  That day, blessings abounded as we received communion together.

Today, Joe is an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and I reassure dear friends who faithfully attend alone: sometimes it just requires patience for an answer to one’s prayers.  Yes, I still sit by myself because Joe is busy running the Power Point for worship! But I know that trust in the Lord made happen what we share today.  Sometimes it just takes time; but it is never too late