I pray...
When I was
a child and it came the bedtime hour
I would
kneel by my bed and say my nightly prayers
I would
shut my eyes and ask for a lot of foolish things;
Like a new
bicycle or a new wagon or a toy train that was in
I prayed for new clothes; those that were in style
I prayed
for good grades so my parents would smile
I prayed
only for me and no one else
I left it
to others to pray for themselves
The
youthful things I prayed for came to pass
But I
learned they were things that did not last
I look back
now and see that I was vain
To pray
only for me while others were in pain
Now that I
am older my prayers have changed
I no longer
ask God for material things
I pray for
strength to make it through the day
I pray for
courage to keep my fears at bay
I pray for
people with lonely souls
I pray for
the hungry and the cold
I pray for little orphans without homes
I pray for those who are shut-in and all alone
I pray that tensions in the world will ease
I pray that we will find everlasting peace
And each night before I go to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
By Juliana Restrepo, Step 9