To the Editor,

I never knew for sure what denomination one of my favorite TV families–The Waltons–belonged to, but now I know for sure they were not Methodists. The episode I just saw for the first time cinches it for me.

Grandma Walton got really upset when she found out she was the last to be told she would be sharing the church organ playing. She almost went through the roof when told the other organist was the woman who flirts with Grandpa right in her face. She went straight to the minister and told him she might quit the church.

This upset her minister. But when she told him she might “turn Methodist,” her minister started using her first name, saying, “Oh no Esther, no!” Grandma corrected him saying she was “thinking about it.”

Grandma was already trying to walk it back. She said she would pray about it. Her praying gave her a decision that brought peace of mind and family. Esther would gladly share anything she had, but never would she share Grandpa.

One again, prayer changed things for the better. It was no problem sharing the church organ with her very own grandson, Jason, but now she was sharing with one who seemed to be her enemy, or at least not a friend. This was a big step forward for Grandma, and her hopes to be more like Jesus, her Savior and Lord of her life.

I learned just a short time ago that we who are Christians are called saints in the Bible. We are not saints because we are perfect little angels, but because we believe in Jesus, who is perfectly perfect. Without Jesus we are just like everybody else in the world. Roman 1:7 begins by saying, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.’ God calls us to be one with Him. Romans 8:29 includes the words, “He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”

My study Bible says this means God has “set apart” from all others those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. God calls them saints, and has work for them to do in their lifetime here.

I believe anyone should pray for work sent by God. Revelation 5:8 says, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints.” A Christian’s prayers go to heaven, and are in those vials right now. The beasts and elders are holding them for Jesus, the Lamb of God. Do they hold prayers from you? Don’t you know you can still add prayers to them?

Mary C. Albertson

Albany, Kentucky