Matthew 6:9-13
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
I was about 5 years old when my mother decided it was time for me to learn how to pray. Praying as you know, is a big part of faith- or at least it is to us. She started out with the Lord’s Prayer, she would pray and I would repeat.
This went fine- I eventually memorized it. But deep down inside, something didn’t sit right with me. The Bible was a big deal, I knew that. I also knew God had it all under control- so who was I to question. Also, mom was mom; she knew what she was talking about.
However the more I said this prayer- the more it bothered me. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. We had just finished our nightly prayer beside my bed when I turned to her and asked, “Mom, where is He?”
“Where is who?” She asked confused.
“God, where is God?”
“He’s in Heaven.”
“No He’s not- you just said He wasn’t.”
I’d just like to insert here that I was FIVE, we were southern with a thick draw, and I also had a hearing problem. I eventually had to have tubes put in my ears it got so bad. (Read A Collection of Love, by Judy Camby to find out more about my surgery.)
And we’re moving on..
She looked down at me, “When did I say that?”
“At the beginning! Our Father who aren’t in Heaven.”
With her thick southern draw and my bad hearing, art had become aren’t.
“No, I didn’t say aren’t. I said art! Our Father who ART in Heaven. God is in Heaven.”
I couldn’t tell then but I imagine now she was probably stifling a laugh.
“Oh-”
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been hearing it wrong this whole time. She seemed pleased she had explained it properly and I understood. She was about to stand when I turned back to her and asked, “So what kind of art does He do?”
KJV!!
This went fine- I eventually memorized it. But deep down inside, something didn’t sit right with me. The Bible was a big deal, I knew that. I also knew God had it all under control- so who was I to question. Also, mom was mom; she knew what she was talking about.
However the more I said this prayer- the more it bothered me. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. We had just finished our nightly prayer beside my bed when I turned to her and asked, “Mom, where is He?”
“Where is who?” She asked confused.
“God, where is God?”
“He’s in Heaven.”
“No He’s not- you just said He wasn’t.”
I’d just like to insert here that I was FIVE, we were southern with a thick draw, and I also had a hearing problem. I eventually had to have tubes put in my ears it got so bad. (Read A Collection of Love, by Judy Camby to find out more about my surgery.)
And we’re moving on..
She looked down at me, “When did I say that?”
“At the beginning! Our Father who aren’t in Heaven.”
With her thick southern draw and my bad hearing, art had become aren’t.
“No, I didn’t say aren’t. I said art! Our Father who ART in Heaven. God is in Heaven.”
I couldn’t tell then but I imagine now she was probably stifling a laugh.
“Oh-”
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been hearing it wrong this whole time. She seemed pleased she had explained it properly and I understood. She was about to stand when I turned back to her and asked, “So what kind of art does He do?”
KJV!!
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
RSS Feed