Prayer

Most of the time I pray aloud with the kids, it’s usually before a meal. One will be leading the prayer, and the others will be echoing back the sentence, so that we are all saying the same prayer together. Often times, it’ll sound something like this: “God, thank you for another day of life you’ve given to us. Thank you for the food on the table and for the roof over our heads. Bless the cooks. Bless the caretakers. Bless those who are out on the streets, who don’t have food, or who are in the hospital. Thank you for Casa Shalom. Keep us. Guide us. Protect us. In your name, Amen” Sounds a little different than how we’d pray over our meals, right?! I got to thinking why I felt strange (and almost uncomfortable) repeating those words with them. I’m not going to lie- I am selfish in my prayers. I ask God to bless the food to my body, to watch over me, or even just help me make it through the day without losing my mind. But it hit me.

They were once in that same place. They know what it feels like to be homeless. They haven’t had a roof over their heads or food on the table at times. Some have been in the hospital due to parental care (or lack thereof), yet others weren’t provided the hospital care when they needed it. I couldn’t give you a number, but a large percentage of Guatemalans are homeless, eat one meal a day, have no access to education, nor are able to fully provide for themselves and/or their family. Even now living with them here in Guatemala, I find myself looking forward to my next meal, the next time I can wash my hands with running water, or to escape inside from the sun’s heat. My focus is on myself and the normalcy of life I often take advantage of, instead of thinking upon the children and families living on the streets just outside the orphanage walls.

Instead of focusing their time with God on their own wants/needs, they use it for the benefit of others. They give thanks to those who are cooking their meals and caring for them. They are rejoicing for another day of being alive at Casa Shalom, knowing they are being protected by whatever it was at their previous “home” that brought them to the orphanage. They are thankful for the blessing of food, a table, and a roof. They know what life is like outside of these walls, and remember to cover the less fortunate in their thoughts and prayers. They aren’t directing their attention towards themselves, but the people and the gifts that God has placed within their lives.

Even in their prayers, these kids teach me. They are setting examples for me in my walk with Christ, as I had hoped to do for them when I moved down here. Each one of them is a gift to this Casa Shalom family, and I give thanks for the time I get to share with each one of them (see, there I go being selfish, again, with MY time with them!)