---WHEN TO PRAY ~~

--"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues
and on the street corners to be see by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."
---[Matthew 6:5/ NIV] --

----I had a simple agenda for my fifty-fifth birthday: stay home from work and not cook. But the day ended up including many moments that filled me with more gratitude and happiness than I had imagined.

I decided to share lunch with my ninety-one-year-old dad. As I walked my father to my car, my friend Joe, whom I had not seen in many years, passed by, threw his car into park sprinted to give me a hugs. It was a gift of great worth to me, because I always enjoyed my conversations with Joe and missed our chats.

Once my dad got to the car, the sky opened up and the rain fell hard. My dad, who uses a walker, would likely get wet if we decided to eat at a restaurant owned by another friend. To avoid the rain, I picked up a pizza from the restaurant. Wanted to devour the hot pizza immediately, we decided to sit in the car and eat.

The rain teemed, but we were dry. I asked Dad to lead grace before we ate. I don't remember all the words my father prayed, but I know that he asked the Lord to cover my family and me. His prayer felt different, somehow: I am no long a child, but what a great comfort -- and birthday present --it was to hear prayers from my dad offered on my behalf..

--"Father God, thank You for enabling my father on earth to still seek to cover my family and me with his petitions to You, on our behalf. All praise, honor and glory to your name, Jesus."

--"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." --[1 Thessalonians 5:18]

--ODB/GTW~ ~~