LAY HANDS ON HER

We were in Dothan, Alabama, yesterday for the Dykes's family reunion. About 60 gathered, and it was great. All Christians, all serving the Lord, some of them ministers. We're Methodists, Baptists, Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel, nondenominational, and more. We sang, laughed, talked, bonded, and, oh yes, we ate. Some mighty good eating. Fried chicken. Fried whole catfish. Squash casserole. Scalloped potatoes.

We held the reunion at the Holiday Inn. A friend from Dothan told me to make sure I got some banana pudding while I was there 'cause they love the Sunday buffets where banana pudding is served.

So I talked to the manager, and lo and behold, the next day the cook whipped us up a giant pan of warm, custardy banana pudding with meringue on top a mile thick (okay, not a mile). Um, um. It made you want to slap your granny. (That's an old Southern saying meaning "this food is so good, I can't hang words on it." We would NEVER slap our grannies. GRIN.)

Banana pudding. We're not talking, the stuff that's made from Cool Whip and boxed instant vanilla pudding. Nosirreebob. It was the real thing. Cooked custard where you stand over the hot stove stirring and stirring to keep it from sticking. It was the kind my mother always made. I may dig out her recipe and make us some. But I need to diet, not eat more sweets!

The oldest in the Dykes's clan was celebrating his 97th birthday, and we did a short roast of him and then sang Happy Birthday.

One of the cousins from Andalusia stood and said she'd been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last November, and that God had helped her through all the treatments in Birmingham. She thanked everyone for their prayers. Emails have been flying since November, and many have prayed for her.

She said a friend called her when she heard the news and asked if she and some of her church friends could come over and "lay hands on her." She said she'd never heard of that, but that sure, she would welcome any prayers she could get.

The Bible talks about this in the Book of James in the New Testament. It instructs us to lay hands on the sick and to anoint them with oil and pray. So, her friend and the friend's friends--70 strong--came over and did this. As she related her experience, we wiped tears away and thanked God for His goodness.

Christian love stories.