Olya Helps Grandmother Pray

Olya [OHL-yah] lives with her grandmother in a little village in southern Ukraine. One day Olya heard about some religious meetings that were being held in her town, and she decided to go. But her grandmother was not well and could not attend the programs. So Olya went to the children's meetings and listened to what the teachers said. Then she told her grandmother what she had learned. Grandmother listened with great interest as Olya retold the stories she had heard.

"Grandmother," Olya said one day, "do you know how to pray?

Grandmother thought for a moment, but before she could answer, Olya said, "It is easy! My teacher says that we do not need to memorize a prayer. We can just tell God what we need, and He always hears us. Isn't it wonderful? We can talk to God about anything anytime we want to!"

Grandmother smiled. "Is it really that easy to pray?" she asked.

"Yes," Olya said. "I will show you how." Olya knelt down beside her grandmother's chair. "You do what I do," she said. Then Olya folded her hands and closed her eyes. Grandmother was too old to kneel down, but she folded her hands and closed her eyes. Then Olya prayed a simple prayer. When she finished, she smiled at her grandmother. "See how easy it is?" Grandmother was happy to know that Jesus could hear her prayers. After that, Olya and her grandmother prayed together often.

Joining God's Family

One night Olya came home from the meeting and told her grandmother that the pastor wanted to talk to the people who wanted to follow Jesus and be baptized. Grandmother had not attended the meetings, but she had listened to everything Olya had told her, and she felt that she would like to join God's family. So the next night Grandmother went to the meeting with Olya. She told the pastor that she wanted to join God's family. The pastor was glad. He thanked Olya for bringing her grandmother to the church.

On the day of the baptism Grandmother woke up stiff and sore. She could not move fast enough to go to Sabbath School, so she told Olya to go on ahead, and she would come to the church as soon as she could.

Trapped

But as Grandmother was preparing to leave for the baptism, a strange thing happened that almost kept her from going to the church. A strong wind blew Grandmother's door closed so tightly that Grandmother could not open it! She tugged and pulled with all her might, but the door would not open. She was trapped inside her house!

Grandmother thought, Maybe my neighbor will help me open the door, so I can go to the church. She telephoned her neighbor to help her, but no one answered the phone. What can I do? Grandmother wondered. Then she remembered what Olya had said about prayer. "When you need God's help, just ask Him, and He will answer."

Grandmother folded her hands and closed her eyes. Then she said, "Dear God, I want to follow You, but I am trapped inside my house. Please help me open the door so I can go to the church. My little Olya told me that You hear my prayers. Please answer my prayer. Amen."

Rescue

Just then Grandmother heard someone outside her door. It was her neighbor coming home. Grandmother quickly telephoned her neighbor and told her that her door was stuck, and she could not get out. The neighbor came and opened the door.

Grandmother thanked her neighbor, then hurried to the church. Along the way she paused and thanked God for helping her get out of her house. She arrived just in time for the baptism.

Olya was worried when her grandmother did not come when she said she would. Nervously the little girl watched the door for her grandmother. She was happy to see her enter the church. When Grandmother told Olya why she was late and how God had answered her prayer and helped her get out of the house, Olya was even happier. Olya and Grandmother had seen for themselves that Jesus really does hear everyone's prayers!

Olya and her grandmother like to attend church whenever Grandmother feels well enough to go. And when she cannot go, Olya listens to the sermons and tells her grandmother what the pastor said. Olya and her grandmother share a special love for each other and for Jesus.

This story originally appeared in the children's edition of Mission, 3rd quarter 2001, edited by Charlotte Ishkanian. Used by permission.