- About Us
- Contact Us
- Testimonials
- Continuing Education
- Approved Courses
- Course Login
- Electrical Engineer PDHs
- ICC Approved Courses
- Live CEU Seminars
- NABCEP CEUs
- Electrical Engineering
- Electrical Engineer PDHs
- Engineers Library
- Exam Preparation
- Florida State Exam Prep
- Inspector (Electrical)
- Journeyman Exam Prep
- Masters Exam Prep
- State Licensing Boards
- Free Stuff
- Charts & Calculators
- Code Forum
- Find an Expert
- Find a School
- Graphic of the Day
- Job Board
- Links
- NEC
- Newsletters
- Publications
- Podcasts
- Technical
- Videos
- Instructors & Schools
- Apprenticeship
- Capacitor Login
- ISBNs
- Training Solutions
- Request a Quote
- Products
- Best Values
- Books & DVDs
- Clearance
- Seminars
- CEU Seminars
- Seminar Schedule
A Simple Prayer
by Peggy Porter
My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of
his
meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home
and
give all to "dad."
That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing things with his son.
But
Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with
his
young, eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.
Finally, mom stepped in to see if I could figure this all out. The project began. Having no
carpentry
skills, I decided it would be best if I simply read the directions and let Gilbert do the work.
And
he did. I read aloud the measurements, the rules of what we could do and what we couldn't
do.
Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A little lopsided, but
looking
great (at least through the eyes of mom). Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids cars and
was
feeling pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning," the pride that comes with knowing you did
something
on your own.
Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride in his heart we
headed
to the big race. Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was
obviously
the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with
cool
paint jobs and sleek body styles made for
speed.
A few of the boys giggled, as they looked at Gilbert's, lopsided, wobbly, unattractive vehicle.
To
add to the humility Gilbert was the only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who
were
from single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side; Gilbert had
"mom."
As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as long as you were the
winner.
One by one the cars raced down the finely sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the
sleekest,
fastest looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my wide-eyed, shy eight-year-old
asks
if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray. The race stopped.
Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a
wrinkled
brow he set to converse with his Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half.
Then
he stood, smile on his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready."
As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car sped down the ramp.
Gilbert
stood with his Father within his heart and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with
surprisingly
great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car.
Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank you" as the crowd roared in approval. The Scout
Master
came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to
win,
huh, Gilbert?"
To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beat
someone
else. I just asked Him to make it so I don't cry when I lose."
Children seem to have wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race, he didn't
ask
God to fix the out come, and Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert
first
saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God, "No fair, they had a fathers help."
No, he went to his Father for strength. Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God
to
rig the race, to make us number one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the struggle,
when
we should be seeking God's strength to get through the struggle. "I can do everything through
Him
who gives me strength." Philippines 4:13
Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never doubted that God
would
indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win, thus hurt someone else, he prayed that God
supply
the grace to lose with dignity. Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also
showed
the crowd that he wasn't there without a
"dad," but His Father was most definitely there with him. Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that
night,
with his Father at his side.