Pray Small Prayers

I took the kids tent camping recently. We packed up the car with all that we thought we would need, drove 45 minutes to a nearby state park, and attempted to pay the $6 to camp that night. Alas, no campground hosts were available the entire time we were there, so I guess I saved six bucks.

The kids were very excited, to say the least. We would sleep outside, make all of our food over a fire, go on multiple hikes, and just enjoy one another’s company. I can’t think of a better way to spend 24 hours over Holy Week break.

Well, we set up camp and made sure we knew the lay of the land. After a little deliberation, we settled on a hike around Gridley Lake. Three miles, which can be tough for kids that age.

Gearing up for the hike and making sure we had the food packed away for when we returned, I realized that I forgot a key item. Maybe about the worst thing to forget (besides a tent): something with which to start a fire.

I’m no Boy Scout. I can’t start a fire without the help of matches or a lighter. This brought a perceived immediate change in plans. We had to find a lighter. So, we prayed the Lord would provide something with which to start a fire. It was a simple prayer, short and to the point.

So, we started back the quarter mile it would take to get to our car to drive to get something to light a fire with. Within sight of our car, a man came out of the woods.

“Hello!” says I.

“Howdy, I was just out here looking for Shrooms.”

“Oh, are you the white car parked next to us over there?”

“Nope, I’m staying across the way. It’s a little wet for Shrooms, I’m afraid. You know, I used to camp here with my kids when they were younger.”

“That’s great! How old are they now?”

“Oh, the youngest one is 32.”

“It’s this one’s second time out here, but it’s his sisters’ first time, and we just found out I didn’t pack a lighter.”

“You know, I have a lighter you can have right here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you so much! I’m not sure what we were going to do otherwise.”

After some further pleasantries, we each went on our merry way.

Pray small prayers, people. Pray big prayers too, of course. Here’s the main difference I can tell between small and big prayers: it’s easier to tell that a small prayer has been answered. They are more specific and measurable. And once it HAS been answered in the affirmative: THANK the LORD! Don’t forget to give credit to the One Who answers prayer. It’s astounding that Someone so big would care about things that are so small. I guess that’s what you do out of love.