Tell God Everything

Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NIRV, adapted) 

My co-pastor is fond of saying my family’s pet is “the most prayed-for cat in America.” Because, at least once a month, my kiddo offers gratitude for Bailey in worship: On the arbitrary date we’ve chosen as her birthday. When she got sick from chomping a bouquet of daylilies. Or simply after some particularly good morning cuddles. 

The prayers often elicit laughter, but I love them. Not only because it’s my child offering them. But also for the example they set for the rest of us. Adults regularly tell me after worship that they “almost” prayed for something. But they worried it wasn’t important enough. They assume the most meaningful prayers are about the biggest life events. 

But I suspect it’s just the opposite. That our deepest, most vulnerable prayers are often the smallest. The tender ones we worry will sound trivial to others but which get us through our days: 

“Send me a parking spot so I don’t lose this job.” 

“Settle my anxious mind so I can finally sleep.” 

“Thank you for this cat, who, when school is hard and my parents are grumpy, loves me unconditionally.” 

The small prayers are the ones that knit our lives together in community and with God. Like the way we invite all our friends to our weddings. but we only text a few about what we had for lunch. Or the dumb thing we said in the meeting. Or how the cat jumped into bed to wake us up. 

How soft the spot behind her ear is. 

How loudly she was purring. 

Prayer
God, you wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had…