The Gratitude Sandwich

Julie Jordan Scott   Visit the Author's Website

It was the end of a long day and I was tucking five-year-old Emma snuggly into bed. I softly brushed her chestnut hair off her face as I started to pray.

"Not that same old prayer!" she interrupted midstream. "I want something different!"

My eyes fluttered open, a bit perplexed and a little bit perturbed. I paused.

"Ok, Emma, lets try a different kind of prayer."

In that moment, Emma and I were launching a tradition that has become almost a bedtime magnet. Emma used to fight going to bed, now she sees our nightly prayer as a beautiful reward and a reason to look forward to that moment when her head rests gently on the pillow.

The prayer started something like this: "Dear God, thank you so much for giving me Emma. Thank you for making her so smart, so creative, and such a good singer. Thank you for helping her learn to read so well..she is so much smart it amazes me, God, and I am so grateful for that..and thank you for giving her those pretty blue eyes and such glorious brown hair and God, thank you for how patient she is with Sam".. and thus goes the beginning of the prayer.

In the middle of the prayer we bring to light anything that may be troubling from the day or sometimes behavior that needs some divine attention. It can sound something like this: "Oh, and God, I know sometimes Emma loses her temper with her classmate Kafiri, so please God, help guide her time with Kafiri to be more peaceful". We conclude the prayer with more thanksgiving for Emma's finest attributes such as "And God, I will forever be delighted in Emma's ability to make me laugh. She is such a treasure just because she is 100% Emma...and I will forever be grateful to YOU, God, for entrusting her to my care."

Sometimes I open my eyes and I see my little girl's face beaming with joy for the affirming words she is hearing. She also listens carefully to whatever aspect of her little life that needs some sort of healing or attention or light. Instead of fighting or struggling with those issues as heated or areas where she is "wrong" or "bad" she is now able to really hear what is true about them and then she is able to partner with God to repair them through a changed attitude or action.

Emma taught me to create a powerful Gratitude Sandwich, where the prayer is named for the Bread of the Message: Gratitude. Heartfelt thanksgiving. The pure love I feel for my little girl.

Here is how you can work with this prayer: the next time you meet the Divine in prayer, spend a few moments purely being thankful for both yourself and single family members for their unique qualities.

Include areas where progress is needed, carefully "packaging" those pieces in love, peace and extreme gratitude.

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Julie Jordan Scott is a Personal Success and Creativity Coach and Speaker who works with Businesses to Inspire their Artistic Sense and with Artists to Inspire their Business Sense. Her popular ezine, Discover Your Passion, will bring brightness and light twice weekly. Visit her site for plentiful and free resources for your success. www.5passions.com or send an email julie@5passions.com or call 661-325-4116 now.