A Time to Pray

Every year the Garretts took an interesting vacation through some out-of-the-way section of our
country. Roy would entertain the gang for the rest of the summer with tales about these trips. But last year Roy's sister Gwen had a summer camp job, so they took Hal, the boy next door, who had never been away from home.

The Garretts were amazed and delighted at Hal's reactions to the places they visited. He was quiet and polite, and he made a special effort to be a good traveling companion. Everything went along fine until their first stop at a restaurant.

After they had ordered their meal and the waitress had set the food on the table, Hal bowed his head and silently thanked God for his food while the rest pitched in. Roy was so embarrassed he wanted to hide under the table. Roy's parents were a bit upset, too, over the scene. They knew that Hal was right in giving thanks, but, they kept telling themselves, it just isn't done in public.

But the more they traveled and looked about them they saw that occasionally there were others expressing their thanks in public eating places, too. Before the trip was over, all four were bowing their heads and saying, "Thank you, God" without the least bit of embarrassment. After all, they reasoned, can't one be just as thankful on the road and at restaurants as at home? And, too, is God not everywhere? They all agreed that it even made the food taste better.

There is a time to pray. Any time!