Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives and upon their arrival he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” After He himself had withdrawn three times to pray, He found his disciples asleep and exhausted from worrying. He asked them and said, “Why are you sleeping?” “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Lk. 22:39-46). I too pray to keep myself out of traps. Like Peter, I too am a bit hasty.

World War II began September 1, 1939. My father was in the Polish army reserve and had to report back to his unit without notice. He was put in charge of two horses pulling an old rusty canon and lined it up against German Tiger tanks. It took the Germans less than a minute to wipe out his contingent. He and another man were the only survivors. It took them several days to crawl back to their headquarters. And without anyone supporting their report, they were to be shot for desertion. An officer from another unit had lost his men and was looking for survivors. My father quickly said that he belonged to that officer’s unit and the kind officer replied, “If he says, he does then he does. I need men.” Father’s life was spared because he was able to say that he belonged. I am facing the same thing regarding my relationship with others and with Christ.

The two most difficult and important choices for me were to become a servant of Christ and find a mate for life. I spent much time alone in prayer and more than eight years for someone who was willing to help me make choices. I owe these two choices to Some One far more than myself. I am certain that it was the Good Lord who chose for me while I prayed. Jesus promised to pray for us (Jn. 14:15-26). Jesus also withdrew into the hills to pray before he chose his twelve disciples and Judas was one of them (Lk. 6:12-16).

In the next few weeks, I shall write about some difficult and pleasant choices I had to make and how prayer has helped me to accept my own choices. I made and still make those decisions and I have to live with them. My first friend was a six-year old girl and I was seven and we watched cows together. I have learned some lessons since then, how to go about making friends.