The Prayer Chronicles ~Hannah~ Praying in Faith-

~HANNAH~ Conclusion- ~~~The following morning, Hannah and her husband and family worshiped once again at the temple. Then, after they ate a light breakfast, they started homeward. About four months later, one morning, Hannah was ill and she lay on her bed with a cup of ginger tea which Peninnah said would help her sick stomach. Suddenly a thought struck her. "Peninnah!" Hannah said excitedly. Then she lowered her voice when Peninnah stood near the couch. "I seem to be feeling as you do when you are with child." Peninnah was quiet,she stared at Hannah. "Hannah dear, are you saying that you think you are with child? After all these years? No."Peninnah shook her head. "I do not think it. you simply are just ill, probably from the illness that is spreading around. You simply need to rest." Hannah just smiled. "Peninnah you do not understand, I asked God for a child, and he is giving me one!" Peninnah sat closer near to Hannah "Please lower your voice, the children are near." Peninnah then stood up and started for the door. "Well Peninnah, Aren't you going to say something? The Lord has answered my prayers! Oh thank you Lord!" Hannah's eyes were glowing as she looked at Peninnah, and Peninnah couldn't help but smile. "Dear," Peninnah paused and then closed the door and stepped closer to Hannah. " Maybe God has answered your prayers, but don't be to excited please. You may just, well..." she stopped "If you believe that God has answered your prayers, then I'm sure he has." She smiled and left the room. God had answered Hannah's Prayers! Hannah spent the next months getting ready for the expected baby. Hannah knew that God was giving her a boy,and she knit blue blankets and little things. Hannah spent many times looking at the handmade things which she had worked on and set away for the baby. She couldn't wait to finally hold her own child! Then, one day, (the day Peninnah predicted) little Samuel was born. Hannah held her first child still wet and crying, with tears in her eyes, and her heart praising God. Peninnah and the midwife stood by watching. Peninnah finally asked what the name of the child would be. "Samuel. Because I have asked him of the Lord." A week later, it came time to go to the temple to offer the yearly sacrifice. "Hannah, will you be ready to leave tomorrow for the temple?" asked Elkanah. "I am not going to the temple until the child is weaned. Then I will bring him to appear before the Lord, and stay there forever." "Do what you think good, stay until you have weaned him. Only the Lord establish his word." When he was 3 years old, Hannah prepared to leave with the rest. She dressed Samuel in his best clothes and she took three bulls and a sack of flour and some wine, and they started on the long trip to the temple. When they got to the temple, Hannah took the child to Eli. With tears on the edges of her eyes she held her little sons hand as she talked to Eli. "My Lord,as long as my soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here and praying unto the Lord. I prayed for a child and the Lord gave me a child. I lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth." There was silence as Eli stood and looked at the Hannah, Elkanah, and then at Samuel. "May the Lord bless you." He said "I will take good care of your son, and I know that he will grow to be a fine man because of what you have done today." Hannah tried to hide her tears as she hugged her son goodbye."Mama loves you. And she is leaving you with the priest so that when you get bigger you can serve God. You will learn to serve and love God here. You be an obedient boy and do what the preists say." As they left, Hannah was thankful for Elkanahs supporting hand,as they waved goodbye to Samuel who stood in the doorway of the temple waving goodbye. Samuel waved, but his face showed he didn't understand why Mama was leaving him. "He will understand someday." Said Hannah "The Lord bless my child. And may he grow to love God." {this story was taken from: 1 Samuel 1}