Put Your Worries Aside

"I'm coming to you," Jesus told God the Father before He was crucified. "I'm not going to be in the world any more, but my followers are. Keep them safe! While I was here, I kept them safe and gave them your message; now, I'm sending them into the world."

Asking for what you want comes naturally to most kids. 

Whether you're begging your parents, pleading with a teacher or praying to God, what you're asking about is usually for yourself.

Thinking about other people and what's best for them takes work! First, you have to shake off your own problems for a while; then you have to spend some time thinking about the worries your friends and family have. 

Finally, you have to decide how you can help - with a hug, time together, doing work for them or saying prayers. In this week's Gospel (John 17:11-19), Jesus gives a great example of how to that.

As Jesus prayed, He must have been really scared. He knew He was going to be arrested soon, and that He would end up dying and going back to heaven. Those were some huge problems! It would have been easy for Jesus just to pray about His own worries.

Instead, He focused on His followers. He thought about how scared they must be, too, and how it would be hard for them when He wasn't around to lead and teach them and keep them close to God.

Jesus asked God the Father to help. He asked the Holy Spirit to be with the disciples as they went out to teach people about God, and to keep them safe.

Everyone has problems, and you know your own worries best. But putting those worries aside sometimes and praying for other people is a way to make everyone feel a little better!

(05/21/09)