COMPLAINING

A man sat down to supper with his family, saying grace,
thanking God for the food, for the hands which prepared it, and
for the source of all life. But during the meal he complained
about the freshness of the bread, the bitterness of the coffee
and the sharpness of the cheese. His young daughter questioned
him, "Dad, do you think God heard the grace today?"
He answered confidently, "Of course."
Then she asked, "And do you think God heard what you said
about the coffee, the cheese, and the bread?" Not so
confidently, he answered, "Why, yes, I believe so."
The little girl concluded, "Then which do you think God
believed, Dad?"
The man was suddenly aware that his mealtime prayer had become
a rote, thoughtless habit rather than an attentive and honest
conversation with God. By not concentrating on that important
conversation, he had left the door open to let hypocrisy sneak
in.
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