When my daughter Kara was about three, our family took a rare trip to a nice restaurant while we were visiting my sister in Florida. Normally my wife, Amy, ordered for our young children from the kids’ menu, but when the waiter came around Kara told us she wanted to order “French.” One of us said, “Do you mean French fries?”
“No, French!”
Everyone started to pipe in. “Do you mean French toast?”
“No, French!!”
“French onion soup?”
"No, French!!!”
“French bread?”
“No, FRENCH!!!” Kara was starting to get very frustrated that we couldn’t understand “plain” English.
“French vanilla ice cream?”
“Noooo! FRENCH!!!”
“French dressing?” (We were running out of “French” foods to suggest).
“NO, FRENCH, FRENCH, FRENCH!!!!”
At my wit’s end, I blurted out, “French dip?”
With tears welling up in her eyes, Kara just looked at me like I was stupid (I got that look a lot raising five girls).
Finally, Amy had the brilliant idea of looking on the menu to find a food that sort of sounded like French. At the same time I decided to check the children’s menu. Something immediately caught my eye and I recalled ordering this before for Kara. Triumphantly, I bellowed, “Fish sticks!” Adorable little Kara, who by this time was crying and looking defeated, laid her head on the table and whimpered, “No, Daddy.” My heart broke for my little angel but I knew it was time to just order something for her.
At this point, Amy offered up, “Shrimp?” I thought, nice try, but that doesn’t even start with an “F.”
Kara raised her head and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Still sniffling a little but also beaming from ear to ear, she wiped the tears from her face and replied, “Yes, that’s what I’ve been saying, French!”
Whew!
Although we really couldn’t afford to pay restaurant prices for shrimp at this point in our lives, after all that nobody had the heart to tell Kara she couldn’t get it! I think Amy and I shared a sandwich.
Have you ever worried, or heard someone else worry, that you must be an eloquent speaker to pray to God? A prayer does not have to be anything fancy; you are just talking to your Heavenly Father who loves you more than you can comprehend. When you are so exasperated or confused that your speech comes out garbled, or if you are unable to even muster audible sounds, our all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present God always knows exactly what you mean.
“…for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8).
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).