Katie's Prayer: Kirk Franklin's "The Reason Why We Sing"

About two weeks ago, while driving somewhere, this song started playing. For some reason, I reached over, turned it on repeat, not really sure why. Two weeks later, it’s still on repeat, but at least I finally know why. And the odd thing, it’s not because of the lyrics of the song - it’s because of what my mind wanted to make the lyrics of the song. What the song actually says:

At times we may be cryin’ and nothings even wrong.

For about the first week, every time that lyric came across, I would sing:

At times we may be prayin’ and nothings even wrong.

Every time, kicking myself, and mentally yelling at myself for getting it wrong AGAIN! “That’s not how the song goes! That doesn’t even make sense!” The more I messed it up though, the more I realized it does make sense. And the reason it took me so long to realize that it makes sense is because too often, I’m praying because something is wrong and not often praying with nothing is wrong. I feel like this is a perpetual problem - I keep talking about prayers of thankfulness not being like they should be.

And it’s strange that God is giving me this message now - when I have so much to complain about - with problems with the stupid insurance company and Confirmation about to start up and the never ending incoming kids for psr and I could go on, but that’s not what this prayer is about - this prayer is about thankfulness. Even if things to complain about are easier to think of than things to be thankful for.

I’m reminded of a commercial for some upcoming show I saw a few days ago. It takes place in a hospital following the life of this new medical intern. The commercial shows her in a stairwell, a complete mess. A friend opens the door to see her. She looks up and says “I’m having the worst day.” He says “come here,” takes her down the hallway and points at a patient. “That guy has to relearn how to walk with prosthetic legs, you’re not having the worst day.”

I guess if everything else is wrong, at least I don’t have to relearn how to walk. (:

To help myself increase those prayers of thankfulness, I’m making a project I discovered on Pinterest. Actually, I’m doing two projects. My challenge to you - pick up one of these projects as well or do something else, something that will help you be more thankful. Because from what I hear, I’m not the only one with this problem.


Project #1 - Thankfulness Jar. Each day, write down something you’re thankful for and stick it in a jar. At the end of year, or maybe on a really bad day, read through your thankfulness memories. Change I’m making - it’s not just a thankful memory - it’s a thankful prayer.

Project #2 - Calendar. Each day is on an index card. Every year, you add to it, putting one thing you did that day. (I know my explanation sucks, just go to the link and you’ll see what I mean.) Why not make it a thankfulness calendar instead?





Dear God,

Thank you.

Love,
Katie