When my children were young and had their friends over to play, I would not necessarily join into their conversations. When they were playing together, they wanted my ideas and participation like they wanted toothpaste. I hung around, half-listening in case a quarrel broke out, and provided snacks when they were hungry.
Maybe God is that member of the family when we are gathered together with our children? When we are with our kids, doing ordinary family stuff, God kind of hangs back, ready with the juice boxes and pretzels. He isn’t going to interfere with our games and projects unless we ask him. He’s the father, not a coach. He’s the provider, not the police. He’ll take us to the beach, but he isn’t going to dig the sandcastles for us.
Family prayer is that moment when we look up from the food and say, “Hey, where’s Dad? Maybe we shouldn’t eat until he sits down.” Or we stop what we are working on and ask each other, “Do you think Dad might have the tool we need to finish this project?” Or we stop digging the sandcastle because the waves keep knocking it down, and we run to Dad, crying. And he wraps us in a beach towel and says, “It was a fine castle, but you can build another one tomorrow.”
Nice and clear. Thanks.
What an awesome perspective. Thank you for this.
Jane,
I Love these thoughts, just finished a study on the Lords Prayer.
What an important message to remember.
“Do you think Dad might have the tool we need to finish this project?”
We know are Our Father in Heaven does!!
Yes thanks a very interesting point.Why does God sometimes just seem to hang back?
However think of the horrendous situation of a parish priest using your analogy and trying to comfort a Mother after her baby has died.
It would perhaps be untimely to refer to mortal sin and Adam and Eve.
In most cases the priest will say nothing but will comfort.
So very glad to see the return of Jane Knuth in writing a reflection. Ms. Knuth’s perspective helps open our hearts to God right here and right now…..