We stood and held hands, connecting one to the other in body and spirit. I prayed. I prayed for Gladys. I don’t remember all of what I said, but I prayed a prayer for Gladys. It was not my first prayer for Gladys. It would not be my last. I am still praying a prayer for Gladys.

This is how I started the prayer: God of the universe. God of every single thing. God of a people made a little lower than angels. My God, whom I can call on any time, any place, any circumstance and you will answer. I started my prayer this way because I believe God is truly powerful and can do anything. I prayed a prayer for Gladys to the most powerful God.

Let me just tell you a little about Gladys. She is a beautiful person who lifts the knocked down and includes the left out. She and her husband Leonard are truly dedicated to making a better world. Her works are many. She says that I am her special brother. I love Gladys. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of love.

Gladys has brain cancer. Some have lost hope. But Gladys still has hope. So does her husband and children and the legions who love her. She is receiving treatment from a team who has hope. As I prayed a prayer for Gladys, I had great hope. I said, “God, we come asking you to touch Gladys in a special way. Touch her in a healing way. Touch Gladys in a way only you can touch her.” I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of hope.

It was my 74th birthday. I was up at 3:30 a.m. I celebrated by driving nearly 600 miles from Selma to Durham, North Carolina. I needed to see Gladys with my own eyes. I needed to touch Gladys with my own hands. I needed to hold Gladys with my own arms. So did Faya Rose. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of need and determination.

I was not praying a prayer for Gladys just in hope. I was praying a prayer in full faith. Hope is very powerful. But faith is the power of hope multiplied a thousand times.

The Good Book says that a mustard seed of faith can move mountains. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of faith.

Faya Rose and I have been friends with Gladys and Leonard for nearly 50 years. It is a special friendship grounded in a common struggle to lift our communities and make our world a better place. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of friendship and common struggle.

I prayed as follows: “God, make instruments of Leonard and Keoca (Leonard and Gladys’ daughter) and Faya Rose and me. Make instruments of all those connected to Gladys in ways seen and unseen. Make us instruments that convey your healing power through our thoughts, our actions, our prayers, our works. God, make us instruments of healing.” I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of our being God’s instruments of healing.

I believe that prayer is powerful. I believe that prayer grows in power when our prayers combine with other prayers. As these prayers combine with each other, they spread out and connect with God’s ever reaching spirit. Our prayers become infused with God’s spirit and God’s power. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of collective prayer.

Gladys looked good. There was a strength in her spirit. She struggled with her words, but her presence spoke strongly. I heard her hope. I heard her determination. I heard her faith. I heard her spirit. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of strength infused by God’s spirit.

Faya had called Leonard about our making the trip to see Gladys. He discouraged our making the 600 mile trip. We decided to go anyway. We had to go. When we reached Charlotte, some 143 miles from Durham, I called Leonard. I told him we were in Charlotte and asked if we could visit him and Gladys for an hour or so. He said to come on. We stopped and ate before we got to Durham so we would not be a burden on a family struggling with the challenges of illness. Still, Leonard had some delicious croaker fish and a truly tasty salad. We stayed several hours. In my mind, every moment we shared was a prayer. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of companionship.

I did not stop praying a prayer for Gladys when I left their home. I am still praying. I pray often. I prayed for God’s healing touch to gently touch Gladys; to strongly protect Gladys; to forcefully fill Gladys’ cup of health; and to provide Gladys the proverbial new lease on life. I prayed a prayer for Gladys in the power of every power I could summon. And I was not the only one praying such a prayer for Gladys.

I believe that we all have seeds of disease within us. I also believe that we have seeds of healing within us. The seeds of disease will germinate and grow on their own. Sometimes we have to stimulate the seeds of healing. I believe that prayer stimulates the germination and growth of seeds of healing.