A little girl’s prayer

I have a precocious 10 year old daughter who gave us a huge headache during her pre-school days. My wife & I felt that she was a liitle too dreamy and lacked responsibility. Little did werealise that we had fallen for the typical parent syndrome – the one where high expectations were heaped upon the eldest child.  After witnessing so many other parents pressure the eldest (and having gone through the same myself) we made ourseleves promise not to do the same to our eldest . And here we are yet again at the very situation we swore not to be in.
So, for a time, our poor girl was being berated for this and that, for losing her things in school or just being forgetful. Now at the age of 10, she has somewhat outgrown some of those unwanted traits.
A couple of days ago, whilst doing a little spring cleaning, my wife came across a note. It was prayer for my daughter, though none of us can recall ever writing it. It was probably written at some point during the frustrating days. This was what was penned.

Dear God,
You are my greates teacher. I am {name}, who come to you because you have so much wisdom.
Teach me to be more careful and help me look after the things in my care.
Help mom and dad to be good parents, to understand that I will make mistakes.
But I must obey God’s teaching and my parents’ teaching.
Bless my family with patience and kindness, so that we may become a loving family.
Help me Father to understand the law of life and to live by them always.
I know if I listen, you will bless me with happiness. But when I sometimes don’t, you will be there
to remind me.

Amen.

~ by macrocosm on July 31, 2009.