I’m turning 70 on October 14, 2020, and I’m Gramcracker, the Prayer Walker.
I’m founder of Yahweh Sisterhood Book Club. Every month we read a book and meet the author via Zoom or in person. Due to COVID-19 we have not met this year but will continue in September on Facebook.
Because of the pandemic and other concerns, I decided to interview authors and post them on Facebook and my YouTube channel. One of those authors was Janet McHenry who wrote Prayer Walk. Little did I know how this would transform my personal, spiritual, and physical life.
I have not exercised for quite some time due to neck and back injuries. The injuries became worse when I fell in 2019. In January of 2020 I had neck surgery and in March had shoulder surgery. This was not what I expected at this time but was trusting God to see me through.
In June, I felt the Lord prompting me to start Janet McHenry’s 30-day prayer walk challenge. On the first day I realized my sneakers were too tight and my feet hurt, so I had to purchase a new pair. I walked up and down our street a few times.
As I walked, a neighbour came out and asked what my husband was doing in our backyard. Moving into a new place there was a great deal of yard work to be done. As I was explaining the work to her, she said, “I’m going to dig up some of my iris and other plants. I’ll leave them in bags at the end of the driveway.”
After our conversation, I continued to walk down the street to her driveway and picked up a bag and put it in my driveway. I did this six times. She also gave us some bulbs to plant. I had walked a mile by the time I was done.
Why is this so important? Our yard was basically bare besides trees and some small bushes. No flowers. I was praying for my neighbours, and God blessed us with all these beautiful plants.
I felt the Lord tell me to daily go live on Facebook and talk about my journey. Each day I shared what was on my heart, prayer requests were posted on my page and private messages were sent asking for prayer for many health issues.
Each day I walked and went live on Facebook. I would share whatever God put on my heart from Joseph of the Old Testament, Mary and Martha, and many more. One day, I asked those who did not know Jesus to pray with me.
On June 12, I interviewed author Sara R. Ward, and we discussed her book, Made for Hope. Sarah talked about her son, Silas who died from a rare disease. In the middle of the interview, I realize that it was the day my son, Jason, died in 1974. The following day, June 13, was his wake and June 14 was his second birthday.
Each year, as the days draw closer to June 12, Jason is more prominent in my thoughts. I wondered what his life would have been like, his children, his relationship with my four other children. Because I was prayer walking and praying for so many others, I did not go through the weeks leading up to the days of his injury and death. God put me in the middle of an interview with Sara who had gone through the loss of a child when I realized what day it was. GOD is AWESOME.
I finished my thirty days and walked a total of 37.23 miles. Remember, I had not walked before this.
Due to extensive physical therapy and some back issues, I stopped walking. However, as my strength returns, I’m going to resume my prayer walking.
Right now, I’m working on the first draft of my children’s book, which I believe will become a series. I consider myself “the reluctant writer” as I never thought I would become an author.
In September of 2020, I’m starting a year at the Institute of Children’s Literature.
So initially I asked a question, “What do Gramcracker and C.S. Lewis have in common?”
AND GRAMCRACKER
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
My prayer is God speaks to you and He gives you a new goal or dream.
Blessings,
Jo Massaro
This post originally appeared on Patti Shene's The Over 50 Writer on August 18, 2020.