Donut Hole Prayer

When our sons were younger, we enjoyed a long trip from the country into the city to attend the church where my husband grew up. The journey usually took about 45 minutes and we spent the time talking about Jesus, singing songs and enjoying the quiet time after the normally hectic preparations for Sunday worship. The ride gave us the opportunity to arrive at the church happy and relaxed.

Since our trip home usually extended through the lunch hour, we periodically stopped to buy a treat to tide the boys over until we returned home. Our favorite destination was a bakery on the way that served delicious donuts, breads and rolls. The boys always asked for donuts or donut holes, which they would munch happily in the back seat, scattering crumbs liberally.

One particular Sunday, our oldest boy, then about 3 years old, became thirsty while eating his donut. We were not quite halfway home, and it was not convenient to stop at that time, so we played the usual parent game of, "We're almost there. We'll get you some water when we get home." Within a few minutes, the plaintive request would come again, "Mommy, Daddy, I'm thirsty!" We would repeat our answer, and he would repeat his request shortly after.

Apparently, our little guy thought he would go to a higher source and we heard, from the backseat, "Jesus, please can I have a drink of water?" Lee and I smiled as we listened to this desperate attempt by our son to be satisfied. It wasn't until we returned home sometime later that we realized our boy hadn't asked us again for a drink of water. His prayer had been answered.

We spend many, many moments in "donut hole prayers." Some are not too serious... "Jesus, can you help me find my papers?" "Jesus, if you just let me get through this test, I'll study harder next time." "Jesus, please don't let me make a fool of myself when I get up to speak." Some others are desperation prayers... "Jesus, please heal me!" "Jesus, lower the fever of my child." "Jesus, help!"

I believe that donut hole prayers, unless you're a three-year-old child, are not sufficient to establish a real relationship with the father who loves us so much that he would come to earth as a human being to communicate with us and pay the price of death for our sins. How does God feel when we ignore him until the last minute when we're in deep trouble and panicky, I wonder. He answers us, I know He does. However, I also believe it must break His heart to know that we more often than not, see him as a stopgap measure on our road through life. We pray only in the times we're "stuck," but never think of it when things are going well.

When we pray donut hole prayers, we miss out on so much of what God has for us. We haven't taken the time to be silent in his presence and listen to Him. We don't thank him for the glory of creation, for the family we have, for our homes, health, friends and provisions he has made for us to enjoy and cherish.

Perhaps it's time to not settle for the donut holes. Surround those holes with the rest of the donut. Surround yourself with the blessings God has for you. Then the donut hole answers will become very special treats.