Proud Prayers and Humble Hearts

“Class,” said Mrs. Bentley, “you’re going to work in pairs on your history projects.”

“Ooh yay!” thought Jessie as her teacher announced who would be partners.

“Jessie,” said Mrs. Bentley, “you will work with . . .” she looked at her list, “. . . with Bobby.”

“Huh? Oh no!” Jessie said to herself. She glanced over at Bobby. “Not him!”

The students sat with their partners to plan their projects. Jessie turned to Bobby. “Okay,” she said, taking charge, “we can do a skit.”

Bobby stared gloomily at Jessie but didn’t say a word. Jessie waited for him to speak. “Okay?” she asked. Bobby just shrugged.

“You can be the pilgrim guy, and I’ll be the lady on the Mayflower ship,” Jessie continued, looking back at her partner. Bobby laid his head down on the desk. Jessie rolled her eyes. She wondered how he could be so tired. “Fine then,” she said and stomped back to her own desk to plan the skit by herself.

After school, Jessie ranted all the way home about how her new partner wasn’t helping, and the whole project would be a disaster all because of Bobby. “I wish Justin was my partner,” she huffed.

“I’m sure it will work out okay,” said Jessie’s mom. “Be patient with Bobby and be kind to him. He may just be shy. Give him a chance.”

Jessie trudged into the house while Mom carried baby Mikey inside and laid him down on a blanket. Jessie unloaded her backpack then turned to find Mikey on the floor beside her, playing with her shoelace. “Hey, did you scoot all the way over here?” she asked.

Jessie picked Mikey up. Suddenly, she smelled something funny. Jessie sniffed and looked at Mikey in alarm. “Ahh!” she squealed. Mikey giggled. “Eww! You smell gross.” Jessie laid Mikey back on his blanket then pinched her nose. “Mom! Mikey needs a diaper change!” she shouted.

Mom came into the room and picked up the baby. “Oh, he certainly does. I’ll go change him, Jessie, while you set the table for dinner.”

Later that evening, Jessie’s parents came to tuck her in bed. “Ready to say your prayers?” asked Dad. Jessie began to pray. “Dear Jesus, thank you for my friends even though I got stuck with Bobby instead of one of them for my partner.”

Mom looked up in surprise at Jessie, who continued. “And thanks for making me so smart so I can do the history project on my own since Bobby isn’t helping. Please make him stop being weird and listen to me.”

Dad looked up this time and cringed. Jessie went on. “Thank you for Mom, and Dad, and for baby Mikey, too. And thank you that I don’t smell funny like he does. Amen.”

As Jessie climbed in bed, her dad said, “I’m not sure that your prayer was the kind that would please God.”

“How come?” Jessie asked. “I was thankful.”

“Yes, but it sounded like your attitude was rather proud,” Dad replied.

“And unkind,” Mom added.

“Oh. Sorry,” said Jessie.

“Well, next time, make sure you pray with a right attitude.”

“Okay, Daddy,” said Jessie. She closed her eyes as her parents turned out the light.

The next day at school, Mrs. Bentley squeezed into a kid-size seat near Jessie’s desk and spoke quietly. “Jessie, there’s something I think you should understand about Bobby. His mother is very ill, and he’s had to do extra chores to help out at home. He’s very worried about his mom, and it’s hard for him to concentrate on his schoolwork.”

“Oh, that’s why he was so tired,” Jessie replied.

“And,” Mrs. Bentley went on, “I knew that you’d be kind to him and understanding. That’s why I made him your partner. I also know that you can do a good job on the project even if Bobby can’t help much. Do you understand?”

Jessie nodded. She suddenly felt sorry for Bobby. “Maybe I can think of easy things Bobby can do,” Jessie suggested.

Mrs. Bentley smiled. “Good idea. Thank you, Jessie. I knew I could count on you.”

That afternoon, Jessie sat in her beanbag chair watching her favorite show. She glanced at her baby brother scooting around on his blanket. When he moved toward her, Jessie’s first thought was, “Uh oh, is he stinky again?” But then she decided to hold out her arms to him.

Mikey grinned. Then, to Jessie’s surprise, he got up on his knees and started crawling to her. “Mom!” Jessie shouted. “Come here, quick.”

Mom rushed in and watched as Mikey crawled little by little to his big sister. “Good job, Mikey!” Jessie said proudly and pulled him close for a hug, making him giggle.

“That’s great!” said Mom. “And what a nice big sister you are, Jessie.”

Jessie thought about Bobby and Mikey and how she had been unkind toward both of them. She decided tonight’s prayer would be different. “Dear Jesus,” she began, “I’m sorry for how I acted. I didn’t like Bobby at first, but now I know that he needs me to be nice to him. Please help me do that. And same with Mikey. I really am thankful for him. Please help me be a good big sister. Amen.”

Mom and Dad smiled and kissed Jessie goodnight. “We’re proud of you,” said Mom.

“And,” said Dad, “I think that kind of prayer pleases God the most because it came from a kind and humble heart.”

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