There was a young boy who listened carefully to his father’s prayers.
Every night before dinner his father would ask the Lord for many things, including that the Lord would “protect the family from all harm and danger.”
As the boy grew older he was given an opportunity to pray at the evening prayer. Wishing to follow his father’s example, the boy prayed, “Our Lord, please protect us from Mr. Herman Danger.”
As I thought about this story, I wondered how often we really pay attention to the words we are saying when we pray. The other day, I prayed the Lord’s prayer. Our Father who art in heaven. Then I thought, I am alone, so perhaps I could pray “My father who is in heaven.”
Instantly I thought of my own father. I had never really reflected on the metaphorical connection before. Changing the word “our” to “my,” made a difference. Like the boy in the story who thought his father was praying about “Mr. Herman Danger,” I think I always took the phrase “Our Father” to be a name for God, like Lord, or YHWH. By saying “my Father,” I became aware of the closeness and relationality of God. Jesus says, “if you, though evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your Father in heaven?” Matt 7.
God reveals himself as the perfect Father, who cares for, listens to, and provides for his children.