A Different Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Help us remember that that the jerk who cut us off traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day
and is rushing home to cook dinner,
help with homework, do the laundry
and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed,
disinterested young man who can't make change correctly
is a worried 19-year-old college student,
balancing his apprehension over final exams
with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord,
that the scary looking bum,
begging for money in the same spot every day
(who really ought to get a job!)
is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress might be trying to figure out what they can afford to eat & still buy at least part of the medicines they need to make it through another day,

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love.
It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.
Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us,
but to all humanity.
Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.