A Good Prayer

[judy]

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.