A Prayer Worth Remembering

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 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.

Amen