When we just start to pray to get time off for our fourth vacation of the year
Let us pray instead for the front-line healthcare workers that get no time off in a pandemic
When we just start to pray for more time to spend with a loved one
Let us pray instead for the soldiers that keep us safe with no guarantee of a return to their own families
When we just start to pray for a bigger and better house for ourselves
Let us pray instead for the destitute living on the pavement
When we just start to pray for a better education or degree
Let us pray instead for that underpaid teacher in primary school to whom we owe much of our success
When we just start to pray for a promotion or bonus at work
Let us pray instead for the family that lost its sole breadwinner
When we get through all these prayers
We will have forgotten everything we wanted
All our troubles will melt away
And we will be left only with gratitude for everything we have