How are you, God?

By Krishnendhu V. M.

“What do you pray to God?” My daughter asked me one day when I was doing my morning prayers.

“I pray for our family’s well-being, security, happiness and good life.” I replied.

She appeared to be considering it for a while before presenting her next question.

“Hmm! Everybody prays for oneself. I wonder whether anyone prays for God too?”

I was speechless for a moment. How should I respond to this query? I was in a dilemma.

“Why do we have to pray for God? He is the supreme and ideal being, the perfect one in this universe.” I managed to reply.

“Ah! That's how everyone might think, right? However, I think of God as my friend. I communicate with him and see him in the same manner that I do with my friends. My friends aren’t perfect. They get sad and hurt too. So for me God is just like them. God is just like me.”

I gave an uneasy smile while rubbing my temples. Children have a real knack for keeping people on their toes. Me, who always had ‘fear-devotion-respect’ whenever I thought of God couldn’t seem to think from her shoes.

“What's your point, then?” I wondered where she got the idea to ask that.

“I hope people would pray for God too. I wish people would at least say, ‘I always pray for my happiness, I hope you too would stay happy, God.’ That would be nice to hear if I were God.” She grinned at me with pride before leaving the room.

Oh dear! My little genie. Never knew her thoughts were so complex. Haha!

In any case, she taught me something I would never have considered myself. I'm impressed. I don't think it's a shame that I gained knowledge from someone who is less experienced and younger than me. Although new, it's not a bad thing.

I smiled as I resumed praying.

By Krishnendhu V. M.