> 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
>