Guest Author - Terrie Lynn Bittner


One day in the hills of Kentucky, a young mother spotted a twister headed toward her small, fragile cabin. She was poor and her home offered no shelter. Her husband was hunting and she was alone with her children and stepchildren. Knowing there was nothing else she could do to protect her family, she gathered the children onto the large bed and instructed them to join hands and close their eyes. As the storm attacked the house, she led them in prayer, forcing herself to stay calm so the children might not be afraid. They continued to pray as the wind assaulted their home and items crashed around them. Finally, the noise stopped and the family opened their eyes. To their horror, they realized nothing was left. Their entire house was gone, along with all its contents. Only the bed stood in the middle of the clearing, holding the little family which was completely unharmed.

The children were my ancestors and the young stepmother a treasure of faith. Her story, handed down through several generations, added to the legacy of prayer in our family. This and other stories taught me that prayer mattered in our family, and it strengthened me as I joined the church and learned to pray in new ways. Prayer isn't just a part of my life; it has been a part of the lives of many of my ancestors for centuries. Perhaps the faith of those who came before me helped me to have the faith that allowed me to recognize and accept the gospel.

In a family where many were illiterate, I am fortunate that the oral tradition was strong, and that the stories have lasted until someone came along to write them down and preserve them for us. This story came to me from a cousin I've never met, but who knew the stories that had been lost in my generation.

If your family does not have a legacy of prayer that has been handed down, begin the legacy now, in your own home. Teach a special family home evening on prayer and then invite family members to share their experiences with prayer. These do not have to be great and powerful stories, like the one I just shared. They can be small quiet moments when prayers were answered and testimonies were strengthened. Help them put these moments in writing and preserve them in print. Give each family member a copy of the little book and add to it often. If you have stories from your family history, include those. Encourage your children to make sure the book is handed down through the generations as your family's personal legacy of prayer. Someday, someone may need the strength and courage this little legacy will offer.