Children’s Message, Sunday, October 14, 2007, Thank you!

One of my favorite authors is named Anne Lamott. She says that there are really only 2 prayers when you boil down all those fancy words: “Help me” and “thank you”.*

The Covenant Singers just showed us such a wonderful example of prayer that says thank you to God.. . the peaceful stream
The dancing leaf
The sun. . .the rain
Every second. . .every instant. . . **

Every day there are dozens of ways I could use God’s help—and dozens of other people that I would like God’s help for.

But every day I also am constantly reminded of things in my life to be thankful for.

The anthem that the Covenant Singers just shared made me think about every thing I could pray for. At my house, we say grace before meals—I bet lots of you do too. Here is my challenge for you: today at lunch or dinner, instead of your normal grace, like “God is great. . . “ come up with your own list of “thank you-s” for God. Big things. . . little things. . . whatever things you are thankful for right now.

You can also come up with a list of ways that you or the people you love need God’s help.

Let’s pray: Loving God
Help me—
Thank you.
Amen.

*in Traveling Mercies
** From the Anthem, “For All That Is” by Taylor Davis, text by John Thornburg