Once upon a time, there was a family of five: a father, a mother, and three children. They were a close-knit family who enjoyed spending time together, and praying together was one of their favourite activities.
Dad decided to teach the kids how to pray one day, so they gathered at the dinner table for a lesson. “All right, kids,” Dad said, “let’s get started.” “Who can explain prayer to me?”
Timmy, the oldest, spoke up. “It’s communicating with God, Dad!” “Exactly!” exclaimed Dad. “And it’s not just about asking for things; it’s also about thanking and praising Him for everything good in our lives.”
Lily, the youngest, spoke up. “But, Dad, what if we have nothing to ask for or be thankful for?” Dad smiled. “There’s always something to be thankful for,” Lily! We can thank God for the food on our tables, our health and safety, and our relationships with one another. And as for asking for things, we can always pray to God for strength, guidance, or assistance with a problem we’re facing.
Jenny, the middle child, spoke up. “But, Dad, what if we don’t know what to say?” Dad gave a thoughtful nod. “Jenny, you’ve asked an excellent question. It can be difficult to find the right words to pray at times. But guess what? God knows what’s in our hearts, even if we can’t express it. “So simply speak from your heart, and God will listen.”
The family then bowed their heads, and Dad led them in a simple prayer, thanking God for their family and the food on their table. But just as they were about to say amen, Lily interrupted. “Can we ask God for a puppy, Dad?” Dad laughed and said, “We can always ask, Lily, but we’ll have to wait and see what God has in store for us.”
The family said amen and sat down to eat together. They decided to go for a walk in the park after dinner. They passed a woman walking a cute little puppy as they walked. Lily couldn’t keep her excitement in check. “Can we pet the puppy, Dad? Please”
Dad grinned, “Of course,” Lily says. They struck up a conversation as they approached the woman and her puppy. The woman turned out to be a breeder looking for a good home for the puppy, and she was impressed by how well-behaved and polite the kids were.
To cut a long story short, the family adopted the puppy, and they all felt it was a sign from God that their prayers had been answered.
From then on, the family prayed together every day, and they even taught the puppy to pray (or at least how to sit still while they prayed). And every time they prayed, they felt a sense of gratitude and joy, knowing that they were all in this together, guided by God’s love.