“If the only prayer
you ever say
in your whole life
is ‘thank you,’
that would suffice.”
Meister Eckhart

It was an interesting Facebook post, and it immediately caught my attention. Someone I know only through Facebook, but someone I would definitely like to know in real life, posted the following statement: “I’m still ‘foolish enough’ to pray to God every day… it brings me peace & hope, in a world that can sometimes be downright nasty… be well, everyone!”

While I do not know what precipitated this post, I was grateful to see someone openly acknowledge that he prays to God every day. 

Prayer can take many forms. Of course, there are the traditional prayers of various religious traditions. They serve a purpose, and some find them to be spiritually nurturing. Personally, I prefer a more informal approach to prayer. My prayer is an ongoing conversation with God. It begins as soon as I get up in the morning. It continues, on and off, throughout the day. And I end every day in prayer.

In my younger years, most of my prayers would fall into the category of “prayers of petition.” I was constantly asking God for things. In a conversation with a Sister of Mercy back in the early 1970’s, I remember admitting that I felt somewhat guilty that my prayer, my real prayer, was mostly asking God for favors. I acknowledged that I considered this to be a selfish form of prayer. The good sister consoled me by telling me that prayers of petition were one of the highest forms of prayer, because by asking God for things, I was expressing my faith in God and in God’s ability to provide what I need.

My prayer life today, and for the past seventeen years, has been focused primarily on gratitude. I am constantly thanking God for the many blessings I’ve received in my lifetime, and even today. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for the people, experiences, opportunities, and possessions which have enriched my life.

My Facebook buddy’s post included a YouTube link to the song “Need a Favor” by Jelly Roll. It is a touching music video which addresses the question of praying only when we need things. I will be forever grateful to my Sister of Mercy friend for opening my eyes to the positive value of asking in prayer. I’m also grateful for the wisdom of Meister Eckhart who reminds us that “if the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”