Last week I took my children to a restaurant. We bowed and my six-year-old son prayed, “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.”
A woman over heard the prayer and remarked, “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?” I 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.”
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.”
I had no choice but to buy ice cream! 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.”
I borrowed this story, it was just too good to resist.