MORAL OF THE STORY -- cindy trane christeson

o7 “Keep praying, but be thankful that God’s answers are wiser than your

prayers.”f7 -- William Culbertson

“I learned my lesson. I will never pray for patience again.” This is what

a friend said to me recently.

Later she said that her patience had improved. “But I didn’t like all

the practice. This time I’ll just pray that my children behave better.”

We both laughed and talked about the creative ways God answers prayers.

It reminded me of a time God answered our prayers with stumbling blocks.

Our daughters, Kelly and Amy, wanted the experience of riding their bikes

most of the way home from Northern California last December. Let’s just

say one of their parents was less enthusiastic about the idea than the

other. My husband, Jon, helped with the planning and I helped by praying.

Both girls were so excited and really did a thorough job preparing for

the trip.

Kelly had the two bikes at college and had them tuned and checked out.

Amy and Jon mapped out all the details and directions and discussed

hotels. Amy flew up with the bike clothes and gear in two backpacks.

Both girls are experienced cyclists and capable travelers, but I was

nervous about their safety. I knew that other family members were praying

for them as well. Amy called from Kelly’s room the night she arrived to

say they were off to dinner, would leave early the next morning and would

call that afternoon.

The phone woke me several hours later. It was Kelly.

“Mom, don’t worry, we’re fine,” she said. Openings like that make me

nervous. I was suddenly wide awake.

“Mom, our bikes were stolen,” she said. “We had everything totally ready,

and decided to visit a friend. We carefully locked our bikes everywhere

we went, but this was going to be such a quick visit, that we didn’t.

When we went outside, the bikes were gone.”

They had worked so hard and they had been so responsible, other than one

momentary mistake. Kelly was very upset, but I was struggling with mixed

emotions, so I handed the phone to Jon.The next morning was busy with

phone calls and alternate plans. When I told my mother what happened, she

was quiet at first and then said, “Oh dear, all I prayed was for God to

give them wisdom and keep them safe, and if there were going to be any

problems for him to please put stumbling blocks in their way. I never

meant for them to lose their bikes. I think I owe them each a new

bicycle.”

Several friends and family members teasingly accused me of paying someone

to steal the bikes. I promise I didn’t.

There is a happy ending, however. A friend drove the girls to Big Sur,

where we met them with two more bikes. We drove them across Big Sur and

they then rode along stretches I felt much more comfortable about. We

drove them across a spot that we thought was dangerous, but for the next

four days they covered more than 300 miles on their own. They still talk

about the fun they had. And we still laugh about my mother’s prayer.We

can’t be sure how God will answer prayers. But we can always be assured

that he will answer them. And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She can be reached via e-mail at o7

[email protected] or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach 92658.