Description
The Pruning Prayer
One cold spring day, Natalie and her dad went out to prune some trees. It was something Natalie and her older siblings did to earn extra money. It was a very cold day and Natalie was freezing. So, she came up with an idea. She would haul a load of limbs to the trailer and then climb in the truck to get warm. All day long she was in and out of the truck. From dad’s perspective, she was in the truck a long time, but the work went on. Each time Natalie got out to go back to work, she would lock the truck, because it was out of sight of where they were working.
Somewhere late in the day, Natalie jumped out and ran to get another load of limbs. When she got back to the truck, she realized she had locked the keys inside. She said:
A sinking feeling swept over me as I saw them laying on the seat. I tried the two doors– nothing. I knew I’d have to tell my dad. Slowly, I went down and told him the ugly truth that I had locked the keys in the truck. He got so mad.
I can understand a little of dad’s frustration—this is in the days before cell phones, they were a long way from home, and it was late on a Saturday. What were they going to do and how much was this going to cost? Dad was really angry.
Natalie felt terrible. As dad’s anger tumbled down the ladder, the tears fell down her cheeks. She worked even harder to try and make it up to him. On one of her trips, she got the idea that she should pray. “Heavenly Father,” she said, “Daddy is really mad I need to get in the truck and get the keys, please help me get in there. How can I get the keys?”
She tried all the doors again. She tried the coat hanger through the window, but nothing worked. She went back for another load of limbs and then tried the doors again. Still locked! Then she glanced at the back window of the truck. She said:
It’s usually locked, (Dad said ‘It was always locked’) but I could see just a hint that it wasn’t locked tight this time. I jumped in the back, “please, please get me in there” I prayed. I worked and struggled for agonizing minutes to get it open… finally [it] gave and opened. I rejoiced, climbed through, grabbed the keys and ran down to the yard, yelling, “Daddy, I got it, I got the truck open!!”
Well, they were both mightily relieved—and cold. They hurried, cleaned up and left. Dad was ever grateful for that day and called it “a great lesson in faith and prayer.” Natalie said:
In my young heart, I knew that God had answered my prayer, that He really loved me [enough] to help me find a way in. I gave and continue to give God great glory and thanksgiving of that day that He answered my simple prayer. I testify of the power of prayer. God truly is there. He hears and answers each child’s prayer. Heaven is not very far away each time we kneel down and pray.
Thank you, Natalie!
Source: Dean Schick original still in his possession
Glenn Rawson
