I was with my seventh grade Spanish class in Mexico and I had a chance to pray for myself. I was snorkeling off the coast of a beach with my classmates and my snorkeling mask broke. I kept choking on salt water so I had to keep my head out and out of the water. I was having a bad time, my eyes were getting irritated, and I was really cold.
I started singing “O Gentle Presence” (a hymn by Mary Baker Eddy)* to myself, focusing on the thought that God was there with me and protecting me. Originally I was afraid of snorkeling because my friend in the group before me had gotten stung by a jellyfish twice. But I kept denying this fear and frustration with my mask.
After a couple of verses of the hymn, I started to feel a warm presence around me, I stopped shivering, and I was able to fix my mask. After that, I saw three sea turtles, a barracuda, and lots of fish! This experience has showed me that I can pray on my own, even if my mom isn’t there to help. This has really proven to me that God is ALWAYS there and listening and taking care of me.
A.R.H.
*Mother’s Evening Prayer
by Mary Baker Eddy
O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.
Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.
O make me glad for every scalding tear,
For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
No ill, — since God is good, and loss is gain.
Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
“Lo, I am with you alway,” — watch and pray.
No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven’s aftersmile earth’s tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heavenly rest.