The Prayer of a Boy

A couple of nights ago I joined my friends at the close of their day for a family prayer. The turn fell upon the 14 year-old son to voice the prayer. I know this young man pretty well. He is a quintessential boy: sports loving, loud, hungry, sometimes crass, often self-focused. As he prayed I listened intently to him importune the Lord to bless each member of his family, not in generalities, but in very specific ways unique to each member of the family.

"Bless Dad to be able to take command at work and succeed so he can provide for us." 

"Bless [sister] to be able to catch up on her homework that she missed while she was sick."

"Bless [brother] to have the strength to prepare for his mission and still play well in his baseball games."

This he did for each member of the family, present or not. I was so impressed with this young man's thoughtfulness and specificity—his obvious interest and awareness of the details in the lives of his family members.

And then, as I thought he would close his prayer, he said, "Please bless that Darin won't have dispair and that he will know that we love him."

Tears filled my eyes. Gratitude filled my heart. Another reminder sparked within me that if a gregarious, sometimes flighty boy notices me and my needs, how much more my Father in Heaven knows my needs. And for that evening, that tender mercy was sign enough for me.