Outgrown

"God is great. God is good," prayed Theodore. "And we thank Him for our food. Amen." As he poured milk on his cereal, Theodore thought about the prayer he'd been reciting before meals ever since he was little. "Mom, why don't you ever say that prayer when you give thanks for our food?" "I said it a lot when I was a child," Mom replied. "But when I grew older, I wanted to pray in my own words." Theodore pondered that as he ate his cereal. He put the empty bowl in the dishwasher, and Mom wiped the table. "It's supposed to be very warm today," she said. "You might want to dig out some of your summer clothes." Theodore nodded and went to get ready for school. Soon he returned. "Mom, look at this shirt. Did it shrink?" "It's definitely too small," Mom said with a laugh. "But it didn't shrink. You grew!" She went to help him find a different shirt, but the summer ones were all too small. "It's okay," said Theodore as he pulled a long-sleeved shirt off a hanger. "I'll just wear winter shirts until I get summer ones that fit." "Well, we'd better go shopping soon," said Mom. "You've definitely outgrown all your summer clothes." Theodore looked at her thoughtfully. "You know what, Mom? I think I've outgrown some of my prayers too. The ones I recite before meals and at bedtime were fine when I was small, just like those shirts were fine a year ago. But now I think I'm ready to start praying in my own words." Mom smiled at him. "I can see you've grown--both physically and spiritually. And you're right, you're old enough to express your thoughts to God in your own words when you pray." "I'm just not sure I'll know what to say," said Theodore. "I don't think I'll be able to pray like you." "You don't need to pray the same way I do," said Mom. "Praying isn't a matter of what words you say, but of being sincere--talking to God from your heart. When you don't know what to say, remember that He already knows everything you need. As you learn to talk to God in your own words, He will use your prayers to help you grow in your relationship with Him." –Nance E. Keyes