Prayers

Thank you Case for sharing your book "Chalkdust". Here are two prayers from that book that are so meaningful to me right now:

FOR THE CHILD I DON'T ESPECIALLY LIKE

Help me, Father.

I don't like this kid.

And I confess I'm inclined to pick on him.
He has a peculiar knack
for being in the wrong place at the wrong time,

and often he bears the blame

when I am mad at the world.

I seem to be after him for every little thing,

but, Father,

there are so many little things.

A more annoying child would be very hard to find.

He gets on my nerves,

and when I'm nervous,

I take it out on him.

It's a vicious circle.

Father, help me as I grapple

with these feelings of irritation and dislike.

Help me, at least, to be fair.

And then perhaps

fairness can lead to kindness

and kindness to affection.

WHEN IT MIGHT BE A "SNOW DAY"

Wow, it's really coming down out there, LORD!

But when is too much snow

enough snow

to close the schools?

I can't imagine

they're going to have school today...

But its 6:17,

and Peggy hasn't called me yet.

The superintendent calls the principal,

the principal calls Peggy,

Peggy calls me,

I call Marilyn and Gary...

It's really coming down!

Oh, LORD, I need a white day---

a day not scribbled up with lesson plans,

a day unmeasured by nerve-jarring bells--

a downy comforter of a day

a marshmallow day

a snow day.

On such a day

I might bake bread

I might read a novel.

I might bake bread and read a novel.

But such a day cannot be taken

when school's going on without me,

and I'm not really sick enough to be home.

No, such a day

can only be given.

Oh, LORD, I need a snow day.
It's 6:38.

The telephone's ringing.

Oh, please, let it be Peggy.

Oh, please, please, please, please, please!