By Cynthia Lynne - August 2008
About twenty-five years ago, there was a busy crosswalk near the elementary school where children had to cross getting to school. One of those children was my son.
The intersection had two stop signs for traffic going north and south, but nothing for traffic going east and west. As our community grew so did traffic, and the increase in traffic brought increased danger for children and increased concern for me.
I voiced my concern to the PTA, of which I was a member, and I began to fast and pray over the matter. It was a serious matter for me.
One evening, my husband took our two sons to a ball game, but I chose to stay home just to pray over this crosswalk.
Acts 27:23-25 tells of Paul sailing to Rome. There is a storm. Paul and others face shipwreck. But, Paul tells the men not to be afraid, “For there stood by me this night the angel of the God, whose I am and whom I serve saying ‘Fear not Paul. You must stand trail before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep your courage men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
I felt like Paul because while I was praying, I saw a vision of, not one, but four angels, each standing at a corner of that intersection. I felt an immediate sense of peace and comfort settling in my spirit. I knew God was answering my prayer by sending His angels to keep children safe. I knew somehow it would work out okay. Just as Paul was shown an angel while in the storm, I believe this was God’s way of telling me, “Do not be afraid for I have heard your prayers and will keep the children safe.”
Shortly after that night of prayer and fasting, several PTA members and I went house-to-house in our neighborhood collecting signatures for a petition to get a crossing guard assigned to that intersection. When we had enough signatures we delivered the petition to the City Council.
Well, the fasting, the prayer, and the petition paid off. We not only got a crossing guard but the City Council replaced the original stop signs going north and south with larger signs, and then, put up two additional signs going east and west. There were now four large stop signs, one on each corner. You could not miss them. Traffic paid more attention and made better stops. Children were safer and parents were happier.
I learned a spiritual lesson through this: take time to pray. I thank God for encouraging me just to pray and But, God showed me the angels at the crosswalk, just as Paul was shown an angel while in the storm. I believe this was God’s way of telling me, “Do not be afraid for, I will keep you and others safe.”
Be reverent before Him. He showed me that when we become reverent before him, make our petitions known to him, and plan and purpose our lives according to His will, then He will grant our requests.