The President Has a Lesson For Us

The President has a lesson for us
By Paul Jetter, Columnist

Piqua Daily Call
Piqua, Ohio, August 2004

My son worked this summer in Washington, D.C. A friend of his works for Laura Bush in the White House. She planned an event for the award winners of a program called "Preserve America." One of the award winners sent back an email about his experience during the time he was in the Oval Office to be recognized. I would like to share part of his email with you.

"On our way out of the office we were to leave by the glass doors on the west side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line.
As I shook his hand one final time ... I then did something that surprised even me. I said to him, 'Mr. President, I know you are a busy man and your time is precious. I also know you to be a man of strong faith and I have a favor to ask you.' As he shook my hand he looked me in the eye and said, 'Just name it.'

"I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital having a tumor removed from her skull and it would mean a great deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers that day. He grabbed me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he said,
'So that's it. I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your heart today. I could see it in your eyes. This explains it.'
From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a pen and a note card with his seal on it and asked, 'How do you spell her name?'

He then jotted a note to her while discussing the importance of family and the strength of prayer. "When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery and the prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery. He said, 'If it's okay with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would you pray with me?'
I told him yes and he turned to the staff that remained in the office and hand motioned the folks to step back or leave.

He said, 'Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer.'

"As they left he turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was prepared to do a traditional prayer stance standing with each other with heads bowed. Instead, he reached for my head with his right hand and pulling gently forward, he placed my head on his shoulder. With his left arm on my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful embrace. He started to pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My body shook a bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by asking God's blessing on Loretta and the family during the coming months.

"I stepped away from our embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his shoulder, and looked into the eyes of our President.
I thanked him as best I could and told him that my family and I would cntinue praying for him and his family. He has a pile of incredible stuff on his plate each day and yet he is tuned in so well to the here and now that he 'sensed' something heavy on my heart. He took time out of his life to care, to share, and to seek God's blessing for my family..."

What a lesson for us all! In our busy world it is so easy to tell people we will pray for them and then forget all about it. How much better would it be if we took a moment and prayed with them right then.

The Bible says we are to "Pray continually" l Thessalonians 5:17).
I don't think that means to be always on our knees, but instead to be in tune with those around us and always ready to take their needs to our Heavenly Father.

Paul Jetter is the pastor of Upper Valley Community Church in Piqua, Ohio.