The Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time...

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 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 (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 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.