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by Mervyn Morelock, Lt. Colonel
Every day, the Internet carries a lot of e-mail information to my computer that I quickly delete. One of my most used keys is the delete button! I can never figure out how my name is on so many e-mail lists—or how I can get off. My spam file is bulging every time I open it to do a cleaning job.
Sometimes, however, an article is so interesting and moving that I print a copy for my “keeper” file. This file contains thoughts and prayers that have blessed me and that I keep as a reminder of who I am and “whose” I am. The following is just such a keeper. When you read it you might feel, as I did, that it is something worth holding onto. I don’t know who the author was, or even who sent it to me, but it is a keeper to share with others.
The Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time
Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night may be 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 man, 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 is 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 judge and quick to forgive—quick to show patience, empathy and love.
Thank you Lord, for loving us so much that we can spill your love out to others.
If you clip this out of New Frontier, or find it at newfrontierpublications.org, and send it to five others, then you will share a blessing and a reminder of your love to other people who might then share it with someone else. You won’t get any material reward for doing this, but you might find a moment of inner serenity for yourself and warm the heart of another person.
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