When my children pray, it follows a standard pattern. It goes something like this,
“Dear God,
Thank you for this day. Thank you that we could go to Grandma’s house and have ice cream. Thank you that we could have a new baby.
Amen.”
What strikes me about this is first of all, that we have taught our children that prayer consists mainly of giving thanks as opposed to asking for things. This is in part because we identified early the problem of ingratitude, which we feel is especially prominent around birthdays and Christmas time and would at times, specifically say, “Thank God for three things.” (Much like the gratitude challenge going around Facebook). But I can’t help but wonder if it is also because children do not see “needs” as we adults do. As far as they are concerned they have food on the table and it is accessible whenever they want it – they just have to ask or help themselves out of the refrigerator. They have a warm bed, nice clothes and a roof over their heads. And while I do not think that these things should be taken for granted, what strikes me is that they trust because they are already proven to be provided. Why should they doubt that it will be there tomorrow when it is there today?
I am so grateful for my children. They teach me so much about how to love God and how to trust. When I think about what Gratitude is, it would seem that it is so much more than being thankful. It is not only giving thanks but freely accepting what I have given thanks for without reservation or skepticism – not with fear that it will be gone tomorrow but with an acknowledgement that that which has been provided is an expression of God’s infinite love for me.
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