[Cerek the Barbaric]

Good advice well said, Cloudy. Hopefully, we ALL can follow the wisdom of your words and try to show more respect and civility to those we disagree with regardless of the topic.

In the interest of trying to salvage what should have been an interesting an enjoyable thread, I will try to start the ball rolling back in the right direction.

Originally posted by Harkoliar: As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me,that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet. You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me. Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you.. I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation. Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day! Your friend, GOD

I've seen this before, but it certainly serves as a good reminder of how easily Christians today can let worldly concerns come before God. We know we are "supposed" to pray, but I think many Christians feel they have to set aside a specific time to do this...then it is easy to say "I just don't have time right now". We do this often enough, and the next thing we know, the day is gone and it's time for bed.

This example shows how much time we do have to go to God in prayer, but we spend it doing other things. We don't have to set aside a 30-minute block of time (although it's great if you can do that). We can go to God while we are sitting in traffic on the way to or from work, when we sit down for a meal, or while we are relaxing on the couch or recliner after a tough day at work. I know that it is difficult for me to find a specific time at night to pray. I'm usually too busy trying to help get our 3 boys fed, bathed, and in bed. However, I often do take time to say a short prayer after reading a story to get the two older boys to sleep. As I sit on the bed and look at their innocent faces so peaceful in sleep, I find it very easy to go to God and give Him thanks for the many blessings He as bestowed upon. I also ask Him to forgive me of the sins I have committed since we talked last, and then a pray for those with special needs and for others that I feel a burden for.

Many times, I will say a quick prayer to God on my drive to or from work. I don't have to face difficult traffic, but I have a drive of about 20 minutes one way. It gives me a lot of time to reflect on several things, and I often use that time to take special concerns to God in prayer.

Finally, I will often say a quick, spur-of-the-moment prayer at work if I read a post on IW or another forum requesting a prayer. I also sometimes type the prayer out in the post itself.

Still - with all that - I see where I put other things (such as this post itself - which is being made while watching Game 7 of the ALCS) ahead of making time to talk with my Heavenly Father and Creator. And this brings me to the second - and far more important - lesson of the message above. That is the lesson of God's Infinite Love for each and every one of us.

Even though we spend time on the internet or watching a ball game instead of praying to Him, He still loves us and patiently waits for us to decide we do have time for Him. Even when we stand in line for an hour to see the latest movie, play, or opera rather than make time for Him, he simply watches and waits for the time when we will come to Him. I know how easily parents can get frustrated with their children. There are times when I feel like pinching my boys heads off. But no matter how angry or frustrated I get at them, no matter how many times they disobey me or are disrespectful towards (a rare occurrence, but it does happen), no matter how many times they see just how far they can push the limits of acceptable behavior....I still love them with every fiber of my being. Yet as deep and thorough as my love is for my children, it pales in comparison to the Love our Holy Father has for each and every one of us.

Whether you study the Bible every night, just go to church on Sunday, only give God lip-service, or even reject the entire notion of His existence, God still loves you wholly and unconditionally. He does not require us to return this Love to Him, or even to acknowledge that it exists. His is the love every parent feels for thier child, but taken to an Infinite and Holy Level that defies explanation. No matter who you are, how you act, or how you feel about God....He will always love you and will always be there if you ever decide you would like to talk to Him.