A child prays.
She folds her hands over her lunch as a piece of her sliced banana rolls over to cozy up next to her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She begins, “Thank you Jesus for my Mom and my Dad. Thank you for my birthday presents, for my birthday cake and candy.” She pauses only for a minute to wipe a curl from her face and continues to thank him. She ends with a mumbled, “Amen” and digs into her food.
I know, so precious right. Melts my little heart. It’s a simple prayer, so pure and innocent - just like her. Then it hits me. She spent the whole time giving thanks.
I have listened to Pastors talk about prayer. I have read books about prayer but watching this adorable child makes me suddenly aware: In my conversations with God I spend more time whining, pleading for help and I just bet that'd I'd benefit to be more thankful. This reminder comes at a perfect time as I participate in my church's 40 day fast and time of prayer.
I think back and remember a few conversations in which parents have told me their kids are constantly teaching them things. Not being a Mom yet - I've always assumed it was 100% the other way around. But while we adults seem to complicate things, these sticky fingered - runny nose children teach us to return to the basics. My buddy Jesus warned that unless we become like children we’ll never enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3). What a sobering thing to realize.
Let me end by saying, I’m a kid at heart. I think farts are funny, coloring is awesome, and eating with your hands is a lot more efficient. I admit that while I may be a 10-year-old in my heart, at times I'm all to serious in my head. I was in need of this token of simplicity - given so freely from spending time with a little girl much younger than myself.
An adult prays.
She folds her hands over her laptop. Outlook is open with 21 emails screaming to be answered. She thinks - let them wait for a few more minutes. She begins, “Jesus, thank you for this great life and I'm sorry I haven't thanked you enough.”
She folds her hands over her lunch as a piece of her sliced banana rolls over to cozy up next to her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She begins, “Thank you Jesus for my Mom and my Dad. Thank you for my birthday presents, for my birthday cake and candy.” She pauses only for a minute to wipe a curl from her face and continues to thank him. She ends with a mumbled, “Amen” and digs into her food.
I know, so precious right. Melts my little heart. It’s a simple prayer, so pure and innocent - just like her. Then it hits me. She spent the whole time giving thanks.
I have listened to Pastors talk about prayer. I have read books about prayer but watching this adorable child makes me suddenly aware: In my conversations with God I spend more time whining, pleading for help and I just bet that'd I'd benefit to be more thankful. This reminder comes at a perfect time as I participate in my church's 40 day fast and time of prayer.
I think back and remember a few conversations in which parents have told me their kids are constantly teaching them things. Not being a Mom yet - I've always assumed it was 100% the other way around. But while we adults seem to complicate things, these sticky fingered - runny nose children teach us to return to the basics. My buddy Jesus warned that unless we become like children we’ll never enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3). What a sobering thing to realize.
Let me end by saying, I’m a kid at heart. I think farts are funny, coloring is awesome, and eating with your hands is a lot more efficient. I admit that while I may be a 10-year-old in my heart, at times I'm all to serious in my head. I was in need of this token of simplicity - given so freely from spending time with a little girl much younger than myself.
An adult prays.
She folds her hands over her laptop. Outlook is open with 21 emails screaming to be answered. She thinks - let them wait for a few more minutes. She begins, “Jesus, thank you for this great life and I'm sorry I haven't thanked you enough.”