Not just what we do, but what God does

Fractured leg set perfectly through prayer

By Donald R. Rippberger

Some years ago, my three-year-old neighbor Ella was playing with her mother outside my study window. Ella fell, and began to cry inconsolably. It seemed as though she'd broken a bone. When I offered help, the mother asked that they be driven to the hospital.

On the way there I silently prayed as the child continued to cry. I knew God never caused accidents, broken bones, fear, or pain. God is Spirit, so man, His image and likeness, is spiritual. There is no mistake or accident in Mind, no separation in Truth, no fear in Love, no pain in Soul, for these are all different aspects of the one perfect God. As we drove, I shared a few comforting words with Ella's mother.

Ella was still screaming when we reached the first hospital, and we were sent to a second. I remembered the Bible promise "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). So I prayed more fervently.

At the second hospital, the child was placed in a private room while awaiting the doctor. I thought, "Father, I've done everything I know. What haven't I done?" The answer surprised me: "You haven't said 'Thank you'"!

I realized that I had been thinking I was doing something myself—that it was my prayer that would bring healing, rather than God, revealing His perfect creation through prayer. So I began to thank God for all the truth and love He had revealed and is always revealing. At that moment Ella stopped screaming and started laughing. When the doctor arrived and I could see that both mother and daughter were being attended to, I went home.

The next morning Ella's mom was at my door. She said, "I thought you would like to know Ella's X-rays showed a fracture from the knee to the hip—but it was perfectly set. The doctor said that he could not have done it that well or that quickly." She then answered my unspoken question. "Oh yes, I knew you were praying, and I thanked God."

"Ella's X-rays showed a fracture from the knee to the hip—but it was perfectly set."

I've prayed many times over the years since this experience, but the vital conclusion to each prayer remains, "Thank you, God, for what You are and what You do for everyone."

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