Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said, "God
is good. God is great. Thank you
for the food, and I would even
thank you more if Mom gets us ice
cream for dessert. And Liberty
and justice for all!
Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the
other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids
today don't even know how to pray. Asking
God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into
tears and asked me, "Did I
do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that
he had done a terrific job and God
was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He
winked at my son and said,
"I happen to know that God
thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart," the
man replied.
Then in a theatrical whisper he
added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing),
"Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A
little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice
cream at the end of the meal. My
son stared at his for a moment
and then did something I will
remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word,
walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,
"Here, this is for you.Ice
cream is good for the soul sometimes; and
my soul is good already."
