because i care

A couple of weeks ago, Ewan asked me "Ma, why do we pray when God already knows what we are going to pray about?"

i gave him the answer that popped into my mind without thinking. i was reading a book on prayers for a healthy planet. It's not a Christian/religious book. The author gathered quotes from writers/philosophers of various faiths/background regarding our mother earth. In one section, she talked about sending prayer arrows because she CARES for the the drying brook near her home. It doesn't matter, she said, where the prayer arrows land. She cares and loves the brook so much so that it hurts her that it is obviously drying up due to environmental damage.

Ok back to Ewan's question. There are a few people that we pray for day after day. i told Ewan that we are not asking God to answer those prayers as if God is a genie of some sort who grants wishes. We pray for them simply because we care about them.

The converse is true isn't it? There are people i don't care a hoot for. So obviously i don't pray for them. But it is not Christian love at all :( We are given the high calling to love and bless our enemies even. i am glad Ewan didn't ask me this follow-up question cos i would only be able to give the model answer but not able to model the answer for him at this point of time.


For now, "We pray because we care" should suffice. i hope.