The gift…

-Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks…and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations…

–from the “Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789” by George Washington

-Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

–Philippians 4: 6-7

-Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray; this is my heart-cry day unto day; I long to know Thy will and Thy way; teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

–“Teach Me to Pray” by Albert Simpson Reitz

This morning I called my mom and cut right to the chase…

“Hey, Mom, I have something I need to say to you, and I’m probably going to start crying while I tell you…”

(I have no idea why I say “probably,” because certainly I’m going to cry. Everything has been setting off the waterworks for years now. It used to just be baptisms, veterans, and dogs that made me weep uncontrollably; now a well-crafted movie trailer can send me over the edge.)

“Oh, sweetie! What’s wrong?” she coos.

“No, no, it’s nothing bad. It’s just…I need to thank you.”

“Oh, goodness. For what?”

“Mom,” *sniff* “I want to thank you *sniff sniff* for teaching me to pray.”

Now I’m sobbing.

“Oh, honey…”

“No, seriously…we had a roof over our heads, and food, and clothes, and so many things, and you always encouraged me, and loved me, but the greatest gift you ever gave me was teaching me how to pray.”

“We just knew that’s what we had to do…”

“I don’t remember much, like when you started. I don’t think I could even talk yet…”

“No. You were really little. I folded your hands together and I prayed the little nighttime prayer for you, then with you.”

“Every night.”

“Yes, every night.”

“Mom, thank you. I couldn’t do life without God, without prayer. You gave me that.”

After we hung up, of course, I started to pray, and as I meditated, I pictured the progression…

First, my folks showed me how to pray, in tandem with the church. Then I branched out on my own…everything from the rosary to stream-of-consciousness teenage lamentations (sorry, Lord, I’m thinking those were a little painful). And once I got into the Word…

Yo! My lessons in prayer went from a trickle to a torrent!

I mean, the Psalms! David! He was so open, so passionate, so trusting, so humble…anything I’m feeling or experiencing…when I’ve messed up big time…that dude’s been there, done that, wrote it down. I can find what I need, when I need it, how to pray for it, in his songs…

Psalm 3: 3-4–But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain.

Then there’s Job. Like, hello! If I think I’m having a bad day…well, he had the uncontested Worst Day Ever in history! Yet, he praised God in his pain, in his prayers. He did not deny the suffering…and he did not deny God…

Job 1:21–Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.

After that, the insights of believers in the New Testament…

Acts 12:5–So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Thessalonians 5:16-18–Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:26–In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

And last, but not least, rather the Most…Jesus…

Matthew 18: 19-20–“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 6: 5-8 (excerpts)–“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others…go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Luke 11: 1-4–One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'”

With all that Jesus had to do in the short span that He was here, He took time to teach us to pray.

And He took time to pray.

Even on that last night, before His arrest…He prayed. He prayed for God to be glorified. He prayed for His disciples. He prayed for all believers.

He prayed for us.

Hours later, the veil was torn. Forever.

On this post-Thanksgiving morning, I offer up my gratitude, worship, and praise to my Lord in heaven.

Because I can.

Because of Him.