The Prayer Box

- You're gonna be late. - Can't you take me?

No, I can't-- it's in the opposite direction.

She'll be asking for me.

I'll go with you.

No. Go to church.

But why do I...

Because I'm trying to...

Look, God knows what I need--

I have begged, pleaded, I have said it all--

and He is welcome to intervene at any time. Really.

But I can't sit in church, smiling and singing,

when cancer is killing my child across town.

I can't.

Can I just... I...

Wesley, please. I'm tired.

Mallory needs your prayers.

Maybe God will have a harder time

saying no to a 13-year-old.

'Cause apparently He has no problem looking past me.

- Don't be late. - But we have no...

m-milk.

All right! Now, that's why we come to church?

Amen. - Isn't it great

to be able to be here in the house of the Lord,

to be able to come here

and invite God to join us today

in His holy house.

Now...

at this time, the altar is open for you.

As I look out among you,

I'm thinking that there are a few of you

that maybe need to come up here and unburden yourselves,

to...

let go of some of the heaviness

that you dragged in here with you today.

Why sit here all morning with that heaviness in your heart?

Come, come on up

and give it to the Lord.

Okay, now, with eyes closed and heads bowed,

if there is anyone

that needs to bring something to the Lord,

that you come up and you do it right now.

Come on up, folks.

I promise you...

your heart will feel so much better.

Please come up to the altar and...

place your prayer...

place your requests for God in the box.

And come and...

give your hearts to Him.

Give over your burdens to...

your Savior.

Boy, God is good, isn't He?

Amen.

All right, then.

Okay. Good.

All right, let's...

let's everyone go ahead and have a seat.

Sister Lorene has an announcement for us.

Thank you, Pastor.

Those wonderful smells

coming from the banquet room tell me that all of you

are, prepared today for today's potluck.

It's good to know

God hears us, isn't it?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Why don't you write your request down,

put it in the box, and let God do His job, okay?

...so kind to help me with everything,

so they are, um...

- Thanks, Wesley. - ...they're setting up tables

in the... in the banquet room.

Many of you have, um,

have already brought your dishes and everything.

Jane is going to show you exactly where...

where you need to put everything.

Some of you need to bring--

that you said you brought drinks.

If you will, just go ahead and get 'em to her.

İf necessary, we'll have somebody run and-and get...

Hey, kid.

Wesley.

- Yeah? - Just a second.

Look...

I'm sorry you were rushed.

- Doesn't matter. - Sure it does.

He cares, you know.

I get it.

It is his job, after all.

I'm not talking about Pastor Conlin.

I'm talking about the Lord.

Sure doesn't seem that way.

Sometimes what we feel and...

well, what we know...

aren't always the same.

Are you staying for the potluck?

Actually, I'm just about to head out.

Didn't bring anything to share, so...

I just carried four casseroles

and a chocolate cake for my wife.

There's enough.

How about we just enjoy ourselves?

Mr. Wells, I just... I don't think...

You look like you haven't had a good meal in weeks.

We're gonna take care of that.

So, ready for the math test tomorrow?

Yeah. It shouldn't be too bad.

Easy for you to say. I studied all day yesterday,

and it still feels as if I'm reading a foreign language.

You should try the cream puffs.

I helped my mom fill them last night.

Yeah. Sure.

Thanks.

Hello, everyone.

Hi....

Hello there again.

Now, before all of you start,

peeling off here, I have the results today

of today's dish-off.

But first, how about these gorgeous ribbon bouquets

made for us by our own Mrs. Patterson?

Aren't they beautiful?

You know, this was maybe our toughest one.

As a matter of fact, our judges went back and forth a bit,

but we finally decided

on this delicious creamed chicken dish.

And the winner is our gifted cook...

W... Wesley Eldredge.

Wesley Eldredge?

You're a good woman, Mrs. Wells.

Mr. Wells?

Could you tell Mrs. Wells I'm sorry?

Tell her yourself.

Yeah, that can go there.

And that can go there.

Mrs. Wells...

I'm really sorry.

Go on, now.

- Are you sure? - Yeah.

And tell your mother we're still praying.

Yes, ma'am.

My jacket.

Pastor Conlin.

Yep. I'll be right there.

All doctors to the E.R.

They can't fix me.

That's what she's telling her, right?

I don't know what they're talking about, Mallory.

Maybe your medication.

I keep asking Mom what Heaven will be like,

but she just tells me to stop asking questions like that.

Yeah, because she's scared, okay?

Sometimes I wish she would just stop.

That the doctors would stop. I want to be done.

Sometimes.

Is today sometimes?

Mom says you went to church today.

Said a prayer for you.

- Wrote it down, even. - I think if I knew

God heard me when I prayed, it would help me not be so...

Sick?

Afraid.

Mr. Wells says that God sees all of us.

I pray and I pray-- nothing happens.

Remember Holly's grandmother?

She was really sick.

They prayed and she got better.

Maybe she would have gotten better anyway.

And that's one time-- who else do you know

who's got a real prayer answered?

I mean, like really answered.

- Lots of people. - Who?

I'm telling you, a lot of people.

Mom used to pray in that chair all the time.

Now she just cries.

Well, maybe that's praying in its own way.

Out of the kajillion prayers every day,

why would I ever be important enough for Him to notice?

You're the most important person in the world.

To me.

Thank you, but you're not God.

I'll make sure He notices.

I will. I promise, okay?

I'll make sure He notices you, somehow, some way,

and then I'll make sure He knows everything about you.

Will you tell me if He answers?

It'll help me be... braver.

You're already the bravest girl I know.

You didn't really make that casserole.

Well, someone says differently. Did you see

that big, beautiful ribbon I got?

- I'm gonna have to charge it. -I told you

- last time you were overdue. - Yeah, just one more time.

- Please? - Look, kid,

if you can't pay, just have your mom come in

and sign up for free lunches.

Why do you put me through this every day?

We're together.

Here.

I'll pay you back later. I just forgot my money today.