Prayers

My mom is a bit of an email forwarder. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not. But this one, I really enjoyed: (PS Does anyone know why fwd's have those really annoying carots in them!?)

> >> 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. We must 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;

> >> show patience, empathy and love.