Why Pickles Remind Me of Prayers
Pickles, prayers and fancy hair.
These are the things I remember from my stays with Nannie as a child.
She’d buy the expensive pickles–the ones in the cooler section–just for me. They’d disappear before I went home.
Once a week, there were the trips to Bernice’s for Nannie to get her hair done. This was a two- three hour affair. Then at night, she’d wrap toilet paper around her neatly coiffed locks to keep it intact. After resting her head on the pillow, that’s when the prayers began.
My Nannie prayed out loud every night. Didn’t matter if she was alone or had company. She called out every child, every child’s spouse, each grandchild and great-grandchild by name. “Protect them from all evil, danger and harm” was a phrase I think she included every night. Not that her prayers were routine or mechanical. They were faithful. And I am sure the ones she spoke while I was there were shorter than the ones when she was alone. Even still, I often fell asleep before she finished.
Nannie with Randy and me on our wedding day in May of 1994.
As a mother, I’ve found Nannie’s words on my tongue when praying. I’ve even shared them in bible study classes to have women jot it down in their own prayer journals. My Nannie’s words live on, and not just in me.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Do you pray aloud? What precious memory do you have of a mother’s prayers, or prayers you’ve shared with a loved one?
4 Responses to “Why Pickles Remind Me of Prayers”
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Oh, Jeanette, I love your nanny! What a sweet tribute you’ve posted . . . yes, the importance of giving voice to our prayers for our children, grands and greats to hear . . . thank you! And PS, you were a beautiful bride!!
Oh Jeanette,
I laughed at rolling her hair in toilet paper – my grandma did the VERY same thing! Oh, and that standing appointment at the beauty salon every Friday? Girl, I’m right there!
Both my grandmothers were valiant prayer warriors, but a phrase that rings in my ears is something I’d pray with my kids when they were little. I didn’t want them to take the little everyday things for granted, so I’d pray something to the effect of -
Dear Lord, we thank you for this day, our nice warm house, warm clothes and good food, and for all our friends and family…
My kids are in their 20s and often begin their prayers with that phrase. I guess when you hear something hundreds of times, it sticks
Blessings to you and happy mother’s day, my friend!
Susan
Jeanette,
I love your nanny too. What a godly legacy is yours!
The picture reminds me of my grandma Biggs…also a godly woman who was an intercessor. Oh want it be great to meet them in heaven one day!
Thanks for sharing.
OK, now, I’ve NEVER heard of the toilet paper treatment! It’s wonderful to know you have a prayer warrior in your life, isn’t it? The day my sweet Oma (she bought me the expensive pickles, too!) went home to Jesus, I knew I’d lost that daily prayer blessing and it occurred to me that it was time to pick up where she’d left off – praying (more) for those in my life.
Loved the memory – thanks for sharing.