Sonafide.com
Welcome to Sonafide.com
« Kids, it's time to play the Michael Jackson game! | Main | Communal bathrooms and life after college »


Thursday September 18, 2003

The best prayer I've read in a long time

Lately, especially since the Septmeber 11th attacks two years ago, I've heard a lot more prayer than I ever have before. It's a good thing, sort of. Getting in touch with God is the most important thing a person can do. Honestly, though, some of the prayers being offered have been discouraging, at least to me. I've heard enough of God, pour out your blessing on America, and let's demolish all those evil Arabs kind of stuff. America is god nowadays. But as widespread as the patriotic prayers have become, I've also found prayers such as these:

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 is 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 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 to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

What can I follow that up with?



Comments

That prayer is so appropriate for this day and age.

theresa on September 19, 2003 12:27 AM

put some things into perspective doesn't it?

Shan on September 19, 2003 09:22 AM

Wow. that was really good. Wow.

Courtney on September 20, 2003 08:23 AM

wow. it is a beautiful praper. thanks for sharing it with us. i forwarded it to everyone in my address book. God bless!

michell on September 20, 2003 10:20 AM

prayer, i mean. not "praper." sorry. :)

michelle on September 20, 2003 10:21 AM

thanks for that prayer... i truly needed to read that and share that with you today

julia on September 24, 2003 12:54 PM

I'm sick of liberal guilt telling us we should feel bad for self-destructive losers, unproductive people, and ingnorant jerks.

critic on November 29, 2004 06:02 PM