What Can Be Better Than That?

Lord, how do I pray? What do I say or ask?
When those I love face dire circumstances?
Sickness… paralysis… hospice… death…
I suppose what I ask of you has more to do
if I love my family, friends more than I love you –
as you said to your disciples about their families…
if they loved them more… they weren’t…
well, not worthy of you.

Is that the case in me, oh Lord? Are those my true feelings?
I don’t think so – not that I’m conscious of those feelings.
Then again the heart is most deceitful and wicked.
Can I trust mine? Afford to in view of eternity?
I should be able to trust them – after all, you reside in me.
I can’t imagine you’d share the same heart with the evil one.
No, I know your Spirit resides there…
I know because your presence is lovely.

Of course, that does not answer my original question.
Lord, how do I pray? What do I say or ask?
I do know that you love my family and friends –
more than I do, in fact. Perhaps that’s the answer.
By putting you first, Jesus, they are first…
because you are first in your Father’s eye, and he sees me in you.
Now, what can be better than that?
Besides, if my family was in fact first in my life,
what can I do for them but what I am doing now?
Thy will be done.

October 18, 2022