Prayer Ironies

Today
I prayed for someone who did not understand
and for another who did
I prayed for one to learn patience
and for another not to wait
I prayed for one to learn to speak
and another to learn to listen
I prayed for one to think
and for another not to think
I prayed for one that You would provide
and for another that You would take away
I prayed for one to learn to serve
and for another to learn to be served
I prayed for one to learn to laugh
and another to learn to cry
I prayed for one to be protected
and another to be exposed

And for myself
I prayed that You would teach me how to rest
but not be apathetic
I prayed that You would remove my guilt
but not allow me to be casual towards sin
I prayed that You would give me courage
but that I still would depend on you
I prayed that you would teach me contentment today
but not to fear tomorrow