Writer Becky Hunter Kelm reflects on faith and sisterhood after Dolly Parton reassured fans of her good health, reminding us how prayer and family love can draw us closer to God.
Fans of the ’Queen of Country’ had their minds put at ease this week when Dolly Parton reassured them on camera she wasn’t seriously ill, after her sister took to Facebook to ask for prayer for her sister.
‘I’m not dying. I know lately everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard.’
Dolly Parton is 79 years old, and despite recently having to pull out of a Dollywood event because of a kidney stone, she says she is in ‘good health, but always appreciates more prayer in her life.’
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Dolly grew up in the church as a preacher’s daughter, and her faith background shines through in her music with songs such as ‘The Seeker, ‘I believe’ and ‘Yes I see God’ among many.
Even though the star said in her Netflix series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings that she doesn’t attend church these days, prayer is a big part of Dolly’s life. In 2020, she said in an interview with Marie Claire:
‘Every single day, before I do anything, I wake up and I thank God for the night and ask him to bless the day…and bring all the right stuff in. And just to guide me, lead me. And I always pray that he’ll let me uplift mankind and glorify him.’
Dolly’s sister Frieda was also previously in showbusiness. She was in a punk band in the 1980s, and has performed backing vocals for Dolly. Frieda is now an ordained minister and I think it’s very precious that she loves Dolly so much that she publicly asked the world to pray for her.
‘I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly.
Frieda wrote: ‘I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly. She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.’
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When we pray for others, the Bible tells us how powerful it can be
When we pray for others, the Bible tells us how powerful it can be in James 5:16: ‘Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’
Frieda asking fans to pray for Dolly publicly may also have been a helpful signpost to faith for others that God can use to draw people to himself.
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I’m an only child, but as a child of God, I’m struck by how often I forget to ask for prayer, or to spend time in prayer for my sisters-in-Christ. Perhaps we should all be a bit more ‘Frieda’ and use our online platforms more to rally others to prayer? Because we don’t know who may be listening, and who may take one more step towards God as a result.
If you’re reading this, and you need a miracle today, why not ask some trusted sisters to pray for you today, and pray for Dolly while you’re at it, that she would know the fullness of a life lived every day walking with Jesus.
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