My parents had a solution to most cuts and wounds,when we were small. 'Dont worry.' which was followed by 'Pray to God'.
As a kid, I used to find it funny that I have to pray to an unseen,unknown someone about the new pencil box that I had lost,pray about a blade cut which a band-aid cant deal with or be able to get another murukku without mom scolding. I mean God used to be on parents' side right and they were a gang and all right so who will give a wriggly,stubborn kid something that 'will spoil her'.
But praying seemed a good (easy) option. You didn't have to fill forms,wait in line shifting on one leg from another and definitely did not have 'fun' parent teacher meetings to get to it.
So I prayed. I looked at the Jesus' picture very common in most Christian homes then and now. ( I loved his beard). I saw his loving, insurance-agent-gaze and put forward my to-do list,both to and do for him. Well no picture of his,Mary's or any saint's ever had a Sorry-mate-cant-do-this or I-told-you-so expression so matters were easy.
What I liked initially about praying was the fact that we all were in it together. The know-it-all adults, we the wide-eyed kids...we were all same in front of God for that half hour (or 45 mins if mom had a bigger wishlist). The same prayers chanted daily turned out to be soothing after a defeated day at school. I still remember how nice it was to simply breathe calmly without having to 'complete this 10 equations'. Yes,most days prayer time just was an excuse to practice dozing without dad catching(explained it as devoted meditation). Also a great time to make lists of what to do the next day. Yeah you have done it too!
Inspite of all this, this family prayer time have only strengthened my faith, my family ties and my nature. I have not got immediate solutions to my problems but I have had learnings which stayed longer than the solutions. I don't zealously pray everyday(no don't blame social media). I believe that prayer is like a nice tea you enjoy on a nice evening or the feel of dewy grass when barefoot. Its serene and should be experienced,whether 5 mins or 35.
Also as I grew older I have learnt to stop asking mostly for myself. Like my parents said, Dont worry,just pray...not demand,order,plead. I do put in lists now and then. (hey Sony should stop launching Xperia versions!). I have stopped pleading or demanding. Some evenings its nice to just smile at that bearded guy and say thanks and talk to him. As if you both are having coffee. That destressing is an everything to a lot of our nothing.
As a kid, I used to find it funny that I have to pray to an unseen,unknown someone about the new pencil box that I had lost,pray about a blade cut which a band-aid cant deal with or be able to get another murukku without mom scolding. I mean God used to be on parents' side right and they were a gang and all right so who will give a wriggly,stubborn kid something that 'will spoil her'.
But praying seemed a good (easy) option. You didn't have to fill forms,wait in line shifting on one leg from another and definitely did not have 'fun' parent teacher meetings to get to it.
So I prayed. I looked at the Jesus' picture very common in most Christian homes then and now. ( I loved his beard). I saw his loving, insurance-agent-gaze and put forward my to-do list,both to and do for him. Well no picture of his,Mary's or any saint's ever had a Sorry-mate-cant-do-this or I-told-you-so expression so matters were easy.
What I liked initially about praying was the fact that we all were in it together. The know-it-all adults, we the wide-eyed kids...we were all same in front of God for that half hour (or 45 mins if mom had a bigger wishlist). The same prayers chanted daily turned out to be soothing after a defeated day at school. I still remember how nice it was to simply breathe calmly without having to 'complete this 10 equations'. Yes,most days prayer time just was an excuse to practice dozing without dad catching(explained it as devoted meditation). Also a great time to make lists of what to do the next day. Yeah you have done it too!
Inspite of all this, this family prayer time have only strengthened my faith, my family ties and my nature. I have not got immediate solutions to my problems but I have had learnings which stayed longer than the solutions. I don't zealously pray everyday(no don't blame social media). I believe that prayer is like a nice tea you enjoy on a nice evening or the feel of dewy grass when barefoot. Its serene and should be experienced,whether 5 mins or 35.
Also as I grew older I have learnt to stop asking mostly for myself. Like my parents said, Dont worry,just pray...not demand,order,plead. I do put in lists now and then. (hey Sony should stop launching Xperia versions!). I have stopped pleading or demanding. Some evenings its nice to just smile at that bearded guy and say thanks and talk to him. As if you both are having coffee. That destressing is an everything to a lot of our nothing.
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