Last night a dear friend and I had an annual ritual of going for a "ladies night away" that we celebrate for one of our birthdays, we alternate each year (last night was her birthday) and we go to a motel and pamper ourselves for one night. I am not a religious person at all and the thought of an experience that would change my thinking about the power of prayer was the last thing on my mind.
We were enjoying a luxurious dip in the jacuzzi and talking about our careers, family, etc., just catching up. There was a young mother there with two children, the smallest, was a tiny girl about a year and a half old. She and her brother were playing around the edge of the pool, chattering as small children do. Their mother was talking to us, small talk really, just here and there. Then she dove into the big pool.
As my friend Mary and I were still rambling on about our problems, the tiny girl jumped in to the jacuzzi! Bubbles everywhere, and she being so tiny... we could not see her. Mary was searching arms and hands frantically reaching for her, but nothing was there!
I closed my eyes, thinking this has to be a dream, and remember praying and saying to myself, "Please God, don't let this baby die, let us find her." Then I lunged toward where she had jumped, and reaching way down, with hand and fingers ready to grab... I felt the tiniest arm... and just pulled her from the water. Still alive and scared to death, I handed her to Mary and returned to where I was sitting.
I didn't really think anything of it until we returned to the room and Mary said to me, "How did you find her? I was all over that jaccuzi and nothing."
"I don't know," I replied, "I just know I closed my eyes and prayed and then I felt her arm."
Mary said to me, "You saved her life, you know?"
It was that very moment when the severity of the situation hit me. I cried, uncontrollably, and realized what had actually happened. The reality of it was, I did not save that little girl, God did, and... I Do Believe In Prayer... Now.
