Things I ask God for...

What an interesting post. I try to ask for peace if things don't turn out the way I wanted,and strength to cope when life is tough. I don't believe selfish prayers are wrong. In my experience prayers are answered,though not necessarily quickly enough!

I agree sara and personal prayer is different as it is more deeply felt.Strength to cope with things has definitely been my prayer over the years and has always been given.

I have my prayer times and I also make arrow prayers , but my arrow prayers are both please and thank you prayers. Please Abba help me to be brave. Seeing the first snowdrops of the year or a sunny morning then Thank you God for the beauty in your world.

Yes, Saralice, I do the same and, like Anniebach, I offer silent thanks as well.

However, our wonderful 8 year old dyslexic, dyspraxic grandson who proclaims himself an atheist took me aback recently. One day, he was particularly down after school and we asked why. He said that now he was 100% sure God did not exist because he prayed so hard in his head every night that he would stop being dyslexic/dyspraxic......but he still was, so the so called all powerful God could not be real, like father Christmas.

What did you say to him? That God isn't like Father Christmas? Prayer cannot grow back a leg after amputation but can give you the strength to adapt and go on living etc.always hard to explain to a child that prayer is more than making a wish.

Aw bless him, I remember asking if I could be right handed like everyone else in my class, I was rather cross when I tried writing with my right hand the next day. Things are so black or white for children

Oh rinouchka I have such mixed feelings about your DGS's conclusion.
I imagine that you thank God (or whoever) on a daily basis for your lovely, unique DGS. Yes you would like to see him happy and must be sad that he views his dyslexia and dyspraxia as "problems" which he would be infinitely happier without.
How hard to convince him that he is special as he is, not "despite" but "because of", and you and those who love him would not change a thing. Self image is so important especially to the young and building their self worth can be an uphill struggle.
I wish there was an easy solution,but as he grows older perhaps he will become aware of role models who are either dyslexic or dyspraxic and have not let it hold them back in any way. Perhaps you have identified such people already. My heart goes out to him and to you who would wish his happiness above any material benefits.

I pray for the obvious things like peace in the world and the health and well-being of my family and friends.
But I must admit to a desperate prayer last week when I lost my bank debit card for ages, but then found it two minutes after saying the prayer, - underneath a cusion on the sofa.

I pray for my loved ones and for others in the world. Sometimes for people on GN who are going through difficulties, sometimes for someone I read about in the newspaper or on the news. I pray for those in war zones, the homeless, all sorts of circumstances but I must confess I pray mostly for the safety and happiness of my family.

If I lose something I ask St Anthony to help me find it

...and Saint Rita, Anniebach.
Am particularly fond of St. Jude, patron of hopeless causes.

Thank you all for your kind posts re GS1. I have not referred to this before, even in the previous recent post related to learning difficulties but felt i could in this one.

GS1 is surrounded by a loving, supportive, positive family and knows all about good role models of people who have been in the same situation as he.
It will be a long road but he is one lucky little boy because of many other things, not least of all his very high intelligence and the strong imagination that fills his mind and fuels his thoughts.

No, roses, God is not like Father Christmas.

did I say that he was?

So I hope he will understand one day that those who love him would not change one hair on his head or indeed ask God to.

We explained to our autistic DGS ( who is very literal) that prayer helps you deal with something, which he seems to 'get' rather than asking for something, so maybe your DGS would feel better with this way of looking at it?
He is also doing yoga, both the physical excercises and the 'quiet' thoughts.

I spent most of my schooldays sending prayers to St Anthony......I was an untidy girl and always lost things.My long hair shed slides,pony tail clips and hairbands!

Roses, I meant that i agreed with you in that God is not like Father C.
Yes. DGS1 does yoga, likes his quiet moments in his room and "personal training", as he calls it, with his dad on weekends. Audio tapes have helped a lot. He loves Greek myths and Shakespeare, in that order!

MawBroon*, he does know he is loved as he is but, when he has had a difficult time, he himself fights against what he cannot do(yet) from sheer frustration.

A lovely Golden Retriever puppy is helping to calm him when he comes home.

Rinouchka, I have a pray to St Jude which helps me. I think of all the Saints my favourite is Peter though , I feel he understands when I speak or act first and think afterwards and I do turn to The Holy Mother if I am troubled for my children

Well...I've said my Thank You God little prayer. She passed her test. Whoopee!

Good news Sara!!

anyone can pray for anything but 'youve gotta have faith'