A
Different Type of Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last
night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to
cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious
moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who
can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing
his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student
loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot
every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can
only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the
store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring
this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week,
this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the
greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold
dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us but to all
humanity. Let us be slow to judgment and quick to forgiveness and patience and
empathy and love.
AMEN!
“ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.(John 13:34). “
“ For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for
sinners also love those that love them.( Luke 6: 32). “