Celebrating family life | family prayer | Lenten Reflections
When our children were toddlers, we would socialize with other young families and try to shape how the kids played together, sharing, cooperating, taking turns, and being polite. It was a developmental challenge. When the little ones aren’t ready to share, forcing the issue can be counter-productive. It takes creative coaching and then waiting for development to take its course.
We learned to nudge, encourage, and coax rather than insist. We hoped they would, over time, understand that the better way to get along is to get along together. As we mature, I’m not sure when we develop the skills of empathy or sensitivity to another’s perspective. Indeed, it seems a challenge for many adults.
How Do You Think I Feel?
When we encounter divergent perspectives in our families, workplaces, or communities, we may sometimes wonder why doesn’t everyone see things the way I do — the “right” way? When we have disagreements with our children, part of the struggle is helping them see that their view of the issue is not the only one. It’s not easy. On the part of the parent, it takes patience and insight to understand the child’s perspective. Explanation takes time. Communication requires listening. Love evens out the rough terrain.
God’s Perspective
In these latter days of Lent, perhaps we have found our prayer leading us deeper into God’s perspective. When we pray, “Your will be done,” we welcome grace to make a difference in our lives. We adjust our view of the world. Perhaps we have become more realistic, compassionate, or sensitive to others.
Patience, insight, explanation, communication, and love are at play when we open ourselves in prayer. I believe every prayer we utter, every prayerful longing, changes us — maybe just a little, sometimes more. I trust our prayer is always heard. In prayer, we ask God to help us find His way, the wisdom of His reign in the world.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus asked the blind Bartimaeus what he wanted Jesus to do for him. Bartimaeus replied, “Master, I want to see” (Mark 10:51-52). Once healed, he followed Jesus. We, too, ask to see with the eyes of faith and follow Him.
Let our family prayer be in the spirit of Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Suscipe prayer, the closing words of which ask the Lord for the gifts of His love and grace – for Ignatius and us, these are all we need.