Everything in life happens for the first time at some pointthe first teacher, the first love, the first date, the first kiss. But Barbara would always remember her first prayer. That feeling stayed with her all her life, a sacred love for her grandmother Edith and her first plea to God.
Barbara, now retired, lived alone. Her daughter had long been married and lived with her own family in the nearby city. Barbara had spent her whole life in the villagemarried there, buried her husband eight years ago, and now sometimes went to church to light candles and pray for her loved ones.
As she prepared for church, Barbara suddenly remembered her childhood and her first prayer. She had no memory of her parentsthey had died in a motorbike accident on their way back from town when she was just three. Her grandmother Edith had raised her ever since.
One autumn, when the leaves had turned yellow and a fine rain drizzled outside, Barbara fell ill.
«You must have caught a chill,» her grandmother said. «I keep telling you to wear a hat. Your head gets wet, the wind blows, and there you goillness strikes. Thats autumn for you.»
Edith didnt take her to the hospitalshe treated her the way she knew best. That first night, Barbara ran a high fever, drifting in and out of restless, fleeting dreams. She was eight years old.
In the morning, when Edith saw her granddaughter was awake, she checked her temperature.
«Thank God its gone down. Barbara, whats wrong? What do you need?»
«Tea,» Barbara murmured, licking her dry lips before closing her eyes again.
«Right away, my dear. Ill mash some berries for you, add honeybest thing for an illness. Itll drive the sickness right out.»
Barbara knew this remedy well. Whenever she fell ill in winter, her grandmother would make it. After drinking the tea, shed eat the bittersweet mash left at the bottom of the cupshe loved it. When Edith wasnt busy, shed sit beside her, knitting socks, humming songs, or telling stories from her life. And every evening, shed praysometimes even in the daytimeasking God to heal Barbara quickly.
One evening, as Barbara watched her grandmother pray before the icons in the corner, where a small oil lamp flickered, a sudden fear gripped her.
«What if my grandmother dies and Im left all alone?» The thought had never crossed her mind before, but now it terrified her.
Barbara imagined Edith lying in a coffinshe had seen old Mrs. Clark, their neighbor, buried just a few weeks earlier. She had played with Mrs. Clarks grandson, Sam, and they walked to school together. Her grandmother had taken her to the neighbors house to «say goodbye to Claudia,» as she had put it.
The idea of being alone frightened Barbara so much she began to cry. Just then, her grandmother came over.
«Whats the matter, dear? Why are you crying?» she asked gently, stroking Barbaras hair.
«Granny, will you die?» Barbara blurted out.
Edith hesitated. «Me? Well, someday I will. Everyone doesthats the way of the world.»
«But not soon?»
«God decides that. Why do you ask?»
«I dont know Why do people have to die?»
«Goodness, child! What else would happen? We all pass on when the Lord wills it.»
«But why?»
«Thats not for us to know, dear,» Edith said after a pause. «And we dont need to. Just live right, follow Gods commandments, and thats that. When the time comes, youll go as youre meant to.»
«So God decides how long we live?» Barbara asked, amazed.
«Of course He does.»
«Can He make someone live a very long time?»
«He can do anything,» Edith replied, crossing herself before leaving the room.
An idea struck Barbara.
«I wonder what Granny prays for? Does she ask God for a long life? She must. So I should pray for her tooask God to let her live a long, long time. I dont want to be alone. She says childrens prayers reach God faster. But how do I do it without anyone seeing?»
The next day, Edith went to church.
Barbara thought hard and decided shed pray when her grandmother was awaymaybe at the shops or visiting a neighbor. The chance came the very next morning when Edith left for church.
«Barbara, Ill be back soon. You stay hereor should I call Sam over so youre not lonely?»
«No, Granny, Ill be fine. Sam will come by later.»
«As you like. Ill go to church and pray for us.»
Barbara watched from the window as her grandmother walked down the lane toward the church. She drew the curtains tight, making sure no one would see her praying.
On the little shelf where Edith kept her icons, Barbara recognized St. Nicholas and the Virgin Maryher grandmother had told her about them. She stood before them, unsure whom to pray to. The house was silent. Finally, she chose St. Nicholas.
«I dont know any prayers,» she realized.
The saints painted eyes seemed to watch her, making her uneasy.
«I want to ask for Granny to live a long time, but how do I start? How do you talk to a saint?»
She stood there, staring, until an idea came.
«If I just ask, God will hear me anyway. He knows Im little and dont know prayers yet. But Ill ask Granny to teach me later.»
She looked at the icon of St. Nicholas and whispered,
«Please, make my Granny Edith live a very long time. I meannot forever, but a long, long time. Her legs and heart hurt sometimeswhat if she dies soon? Shes old, and Im afraid to be alone. Keep her healthy I love her so much, so please help me. Shes kind and always prays to Youshes at church right now!»
Barbara poured out every thought in her heart, her chest tightening with hope that St. Nicholas would listen. Then she lay down, waiting for her grandmother.
When Edith returned, she brought Barbara a chocolate bar.
«How are you, my dear?»
«Im fine, Granny. Can I ask you something? How do you pray to St. Nicholas?»
«Same as any saint. Why do you ask?»
«Is there a special prayer?»
«Oh yes, several,» Edith said, studying her granddaughter curiously. «Ill teach you one tonight.»
«Alright, Granny.»
Edith went to the kitchen to light the stove, deep in thought.
«Whats gotten into my Barbara? Asking about prayers Well, its a good thing. I must teach her at least one.»
That night, as Edith prayed before bed, Barbara watched and repeated some words. When her grandmother sat beside her, Barbara asked,
«Granny, if I ask St. Nicholas for something, does he tell God?»
Edith smiled, stroking her hair.
«In a way, yes. He prays to God for usso we stay well and healthy.»
Barbara fell asleep quickly, resting well that night. Just before drifting off, she thought,
«So I asked rightfor Granny to be healthy and live a long time. It must mean itll happen.»
She even dreamed of a tall, white-haired old man with a long beard, a cross on his chest, and an open book in his hand. He smiled at her warmly.
She slept soundly till morning, waking up completely well. Her heart felt light and peaceful.
«They heard me in heaven. Granny will live a long, long time.»
Just then, Edith walked in, smiling.
«How are you feeling?» She pressed a hand to Barbaras forehead. «No fever, but lets check to be sure.»
«Granny, Im finereally! I feel like always when Im well.»
«Good. I saw Sam running to schoolhe asked after you. Said hed stop by after lessons. Time to catch up on your studiesits Friday, and youll be back in school soon.»
Barbara grinned. «Yes, Granny. I cant wait to go back!»
Edith lived to be eighty-eight. Barbara grew up, married, had a daughter of her ownand when Edith fell ill at last, Barbara cared for her with love until the day she quietly passed in her sleep, just as she had always said she would.
Though Barbara didnt go to church often, she went todayto remember her parents and her beloved grandmother. It was Ediths birthday. All her life, Barbara carried that date in her heart, along with the love she would always hold for the woman who raised her.
Some prayers are never forgotten, and some loves never fade.
