Daily Bread--- Back in the land where I know I need Him

I just returned from a visa trip and it seemed like such a nice break. We had hot showers, great food I didn’t have to buy or cook using dishes I didn’t have to wash, air conditioning at night to snuggle under the covers, internet that seemed lightning fast, etc., etc.

It can be a little hard coming back home when the vacation is over.

Every night when I tuck Mae into bed, I say a prayer with her. When I started, I tried to pray a child’s prayer, so she would grow up hearing it and be able to say one herself. I thanked God for her family – her grandparents, her aunts and uncles in America, and all the people who love her and pray for her. I prayed for her cousins and asked God to help them to grow up to know Him and serve Him.

But, every day we’re here I also find myself praying for things like,“Thank you God for our electricity today. Thank you God for our water today. Thank you God for all good things. Thank you God for our food. Thank you God for milk and the ability to nurse. Thank you God for all good things. Thank you God for our neighbors. Thank you for letting them speak to us today and helping us understand them. Thank you God that they are so friendly to Mae. Thank you God for all good things. Thank you God for our health. Thank you God for protecting Mae from mosquito bites. Thank you God for protecting us on the bus, as we walked on busy streets, and as we traveled. Thank you God for all good things.”

I thought I was just praying a child’s prayer— you know, simple silly things, like thanking God for stuffed animals or something equally insignificant. But, I’ve come to realize these simple things are the real stuff of my adult life here.

I need God’s blessing on my daily bread.

And, somedays I realize just how long my list of what I consider “daily bread” things can be. I want clean water, electricity, decent internet, no mosquito bites. I want meat at the grocery store, the right kind of vegetables for the day available at the market. I want health. I want the lights to work when I flip a switch and water to come out when I turn a faucet. I want clean clothes free from mold and an afternoon of sunshine to dry the diapers. I want to speak the language and understand what is spoken to me. I want… I want… I want… My list can get pretty long.

Here, I often find myself praying for these “daily bread” things, even when I’m not praying with Mae.

I realized when we got back from our trip that I never prayed these things in that country. In fact, I got so comfortable with my hot showers, air conditioning, and food prepared and cleaned up for me, that I didn’t pray much at all. When things are easy, I can forget God.

So, we are back home now, and again I realize just how much I need Him. And, I have to remind myself that I don’t always need the things that make my life easier. I need Him.

I don’t always get the things I think I need or the things I want. I have to remind myself that I need Him, not things. I need His joy even when the water doesn’t come and the internet won’t work (again). I need His forgiveness when I chose anger instead of peace. I need His grace and His love when I can’t understand the language spoken to me and I feel like a failure. I need Him. I need His peace when I get overwhelmed by the daily tasks that are before me. I need His presence when I feel lonely. I need Him to walk beside me, go before me, dwell in me.

Here, I need Him.

But, I needed Him on our visa run, too. I needed Him in America, too. And, wherever I am— I need Him. Whatever my circumstance. Whatever my situation.

So, today I will say a prayer with Mae. I will thank God for the water we had today. For the electricity. For the vegetables at the market. For our health.

But at least today, for me it won’t be just a child’s prayer said as a long list of random thank you’s. At least today, I will remember how much I need Him in all things. At all times. And, I will thank God for His daily bread.

“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”