Of Pancakes and Princesses

The other day I made my first attempt at creating a Mickey-shaped pancake. For those of you who are experienced moms, this is no big challenge, but it didn’t really work out so great for me. I realize that all that is involved in creating a Mickey pancake is one large pancakes connected to two smaller ones. I, however, am clearly not capable of this kind of breakfast artistry. Mine looked more like a heart than an adorable cartoon mouse. I told my wife that what I wanted for Christmas was a tool I’ve seen that makes perfect Mickey pancakes every time.

But even though my pancake wasn’t a perfect Mickey, my daughter recognized his likeness and enjoyed eating it. I found it interesting that when we were praying before we ate, she chimed in like she usually does, adding some things to the prayer that she was thankful for. To this prayer she added “thank you for my pancake and my princesses.” I chuckled to myself at the thought of anyone being thankful for a Mickey pancake that looked more like Quasimodo, but then realized that her prayer may be even more powerful than mine.

You see, when she thanks God for a pancake, she means it. It may seem like a small thing to an adult, but it’s a big deal to her. And when she thanks God for her princesses, she means that, too. Those princesses are important to her, and she is very glad to have them around. Often as adults we think that God only wants to hear our “important” prayers, about our huge life crisis or major decision. I mean, He likes those prayers too, but I think He’s just as interested in the prayers where we thank Him for the stuff we take for granted, the stuff we think would be too insignificant to pray about but that He has chosen to bless us with just the same. So go ahead, thank God for your pancake and your princesses too. Pray for that football game, your cats diarrhea, or the scrape you got on your knee. Thank God for the little things, because He blessed you with those things, too.