My friend Randy who works for Wycliffe Bible Translators sent me this story.
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart," the man replied.
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."
4 comments:
Reminds me of a funny thing that happened to me at a MOPS activity I attended with my wife and son when the lady who coordinated it asked me to pray. I got everyone's attention, said, "Let's pray," and then paused as I habitually do before beginning a prayer. During the pause, a little boy near to me said, "God is great, God is good, thank you, God, for the food. Amen." I was tempted to just say, "Amen" along with him, but used his prayer as an opening and said a little one myself. Everyone agreed that his prayer was great, and I kind of wish I had just said, "Amen," after all.
Charles,
I would love to use your story from the Wycliff family about the ice cream in my next post. It won't get a lot of readership but my family and a few friends would love it. I haven't mastered the "linking" thing yet, but will give credit. What do you think?
The wonderful ice cream story has been around at least since 1988 -
http://www.txbc.org/1998Journals/May98/May98AskingGod.htm
- but the publisher probably doesn't know who created it.
Greetings from Hopkinsville KY!
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