“Papa, I forget my prayer lines!” exclaimed my son. The feeling of little disappointment can be sense from his voice. And I rushed to his rescue, immediately.
A child needs to be taught how to pray. I teach my children few prayer lines, which I thought, would instill the practice, and make it easier for them beginners. Bed time, morning, and mealtime provided suitable time for such practices.
“Dear, don’t get upset,” I said to encourage him in his learning. It is a good feeling when a child wanted to say a prayer by themselves.
In the meantime, questions like: Why do I need to pray? Is God really watching… needed to be answer sincerely and carefully.
“What will I do if I forget my lines again?” he asked.
“Son, you won’t forget again. However, if it happens again think about what you wanted to say to God.”
His eyes shone bright in excitement!
So I continued, “Because, in reality, you are talking to God when you pray. If you are happy, say thank you to God. If you are upset, let it be known to God. If you want something you didn’t have yet, you tell Him. Then, if it’s necessary for you, God will give you. So, say something at the least.”
“Oh! I’ll keep that in my mind next time,” said my son who now looks really excited. And he really did it. I’ve seen him.
Again, I asked him, “What do you want to say to God?” The answers seem to be unending. For a child, who did not know what to say to God a few minutes back, he was now flooded with his so many ‘thank yous’ as well as his request for himself and others he cared for.
During His time here on earth, Jesus Christ taught disciples how to pray.1 It makes me believed that one needed to be taught how to pray, especially for beginners in life and spiritual new born. More importantly, it is the heart which really matters than what we expressed, we are also told.
We are so blessed that we can pray anytime, anywhere, and whenever we need His presence. God is omnipotent and preeminent, and we knew that, although there are some people who didn’t accept it.
Sometimes, being an adult human in the ‘groaning’ planet, it is difficult to get into the mood for praying. I don’t feel connected. The feeling of being unconnected, mostly, is because I had focus too much on myself or due to an astonishing lack of discernment.
However, in that particular time and place, I needed prayer the most. In those moments, your priceless act of concern by praying for me will set me free. There is no such thing as insurmountable problem in the eyes of God.
So, whether you are happy or unhappy, let me urge you to say something to God. For your one act of random kindness by prayer will work wonders for you and for others as well.
1. Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord’s Prayer)
