Grateful

I’ve heard it said that gratitude is the highest form of prayer to God. If finding myself conscious of God in all things, continually giving thanks in thoughts, words, and deeds, is the highest form of prayer, then I’ve got room for growth.

When my older kids were in grade school, they were a bundle of energy, ricocheting all over the place. Their desires were often singularly focused and clear. “I want a cookie.” “I don’t like carrots.” “Where are we going?”

Those were simple days, for the most part. They kept asking, I kept evaluating what was best and provided as appropriate.

I remember one evening in the kitchen. We had just arrived home from a very full day at an amusement park. We did all the rides, ate all kinds of food, and generally expended all our energy, traipsing around on foot. I, for one, was tired. We all were. But nothing satisfies like seeing everyone having fun. Nothing, except maybe having unsolicited appreciation expressed for all the familial effort and energy that went into making it happen. But that’s about as rare as a whisper in the wind, especially in the heart of a precocious child.

It didn’t take long for one of the boys to ask, “Hey Dad, can we go to McDonald’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

“No, not McDonald’s,” said another. “How about LaRosa’s for pizza and calzones?” I was instantly annoyed. We had just spent the whole day swimming in food and fun, yet now I’m hearing the whiny want for more.

“Yeah, Dad,” Ian said, “Can we? Can we, pleaassse?”

How about a little gratefulness? I thought to myself. I know I can be a little judgy toward the lack of appreciation, especially in my own kids, but I just smiled and said, “No, we’ve been out all day. I think it’s good to stay home and whip up something easy.”

“Aw, come on,” they complained. “That’s no fun. We don’t have anything good in the fridge,” they said as they peered into the open door. That ruffled my feathers a bit more, though I still held my cool. “Close the fridge door. You’re letting all the cold air out.” (I’d make them pay by serving cornflakes for dinner. :))

His heart is always towards us.

Then Abbey, the eldest, spoke up. In her sweet, calm voice she said, “Thanks for taking us to Kings Island, Dad. I had a great time. It’s always fun to be out with everybody. Is there anything you’d like for dinner?”

Wow. Did I hear that right? How considerate, I thought to myself. She continued, “It seems like we ought to do something you want to do and eat something you want to eat, since today was all about us.” Wait… how old are you? Twelve years old? This child is a genius, I concluded. Apparently, we had raised a genius without even trying. She was easy to listen to, and I was immediately softened.

“I know you love Skyline Chili and mint chocolate chip ice cream,” she continued. “Does that sound good?” Who is this child? She had my complete attention. As that cute smile spread across her face, I realized she had masterfully intuited the situation and acquiesced toward my heart.

I glanced over at the boys and said, “Guys, did you get that? Take some notes. Your sister knows how to speak to your father’s heart.” It was deer-in-the-headlights silence, not understanding what I was implying, but Abbey did.

“OK everybody, back into the car,” I said. “We’re going out for Skyline coneys and ice cream!” There was a mad scramble to the car, with hoots and hollers. The evening ended better for me, and perfectly for the kids.

In between choking down my cheese-mounded coneys and sucking on a huge mint chocolate chip spoonful from my ice cream cup, I wondered… How often might God the Father have reason to feel annoyed with me? It’s easy to take Him for granted, but that’s the way of a child’s heart.

If my own fatherly heart is moved by gratitude, by listening to my words and spending time with me, wouldn’t His be as well? I promise you, it is. These aren’t techniques to get answers, but truths proven to move His heart. Here’s the deeper truth:  His heart is always toward us. The question is, is ours toward Him? When our heart desires become His heart desires, then we can ask for anything, and it will be given.

Reach for the highest form of prayer, be more like Abbey and less like her father. ;)