February 10, 2026
The following reflection is excerpted from Linda Evans Shepherd’s piece, “Praying for Strangers,” which appeared in Leading Hearts Magazine.
It was late Saturday evening when I stood to get my luggage from the jet’s overhead compartment. The tipsy woman from across the aisle told me, “You have a beautiful daughter.”
At first, I was stunned because my daughter is now in Heaven. Then the lightbulb blinked on. I smiled back at the young college girl who’d been sitting next to me on the flight. Earlier that evening, young Kylie and I talked about the blizzard approaching Denver because she was worried. She was about to hop in her car and drive the 900 miles to Houston, hoping to arrive in time for her Monday morning class. I’d felt such love for Kylie as I asked if I could pray for a safe trip.
Her eyes widened, “Would you? I would love that!”
I bowed my head, not realizing that across the aisle, the tipsy woman was watching our every move.
I now turned to the woman standing near me, “I would be honored to be this beautiful girl’s mother. But we just met.” The woman stared back, then said, “I know what you are. I know what you believe in. I do too, it’s just I’m full of ‘@*#BLEEP!!!’
I suddenly saw into the soul of the woman. Her sad eyes said, “I wish my mother was kind to me the way you expressed kindness to this girl.”
By now, the woman and I were standing face to face. I put my hand on her shoulder and bowed my head. “Well, then I ask the good Lord to take the ‘B. L. E. E. P.’ out of you and fill you with His joy!”
My prayer stunned the woman who suddenly seemed sober. And to tell you the truth, my prayer stunned me too. Even so, I know my prayer was exactly what my new friend needed.
©Linda Evans Shepherd
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