I was inspired not long ago by my youngest grandchild.
My grandchildren constantly inspire me, so this was nothing unusual. But it stuck with me nonetheless.
I was pushing two-(almost three)-year-old Avery in a swing. Her brilliant red hair blew back and forth, sometimes covering and sometimes uncovering her face as she swung. Finally, she threw her head back in a gesture of ecstasy, closed her eyes, turned her face to the sky and said, “Yes!”
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She said it repeatedly, with each new push I gave her. Without opening her eyes: “Yes!” While feeling the sun’s warmth on her face: “Yes!” Anticipating the next brush of wind as she swung forward: “Yes!”
It was a special moment, and not just because she is my grandchild (one of my five favorite, in fact). It inspired me to pray.
That evening as I retired to my prayer chair in my study, I leaned my head back against the chair. I closed my eyes. I pictured one of the day’s many blessings. “Yes!”
I did it again, visualizing another beautiful moment: “Yes!” And another: “Yes!”
Soon, tears were running down my face as, over and over, I spoke a single word to my gracious heavenly Father: “Yes!”
I have since repeated that simple (but effective) prayer. And I have added a second.
I hear a siren in the distance, signaling some emergency. I say, “No.” In other words, “Don’t let the worst happen. Let no one be hurt. Prevent or heal disease or disaster.”
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I drive through town, and I see someone passed out on the street. I don’t know if they are homeless, addicted or injured. But it doesn’t matter. I pray, “No.”
I see a tragedy or injustice reported on television or the Internet: “No.” An animal squeals in pain: “No.” A car speeds past, well over the speed limit: “No.”
“Yes.” “No.” A single syllable. But these two short, simple prayers are now one of my favorite ways to pray. Sometimes they lead to more words, but usually they don’t. In spite of—or perhaps because of—their brevity, they connect me quickly and effectively to my gracious God, who knows my heart and exactly what I mean when I say “Yes” or “No.”
