A Simple Dinner That Became an Unforgettable Lesson
Last week, I took my grandchildren to a restaurant for what was supposed to be a quiet dinner. Before the food arrived, my six-year-old grandson looked up and asked, “Grandpa, can I say grace?”
Of course, I said yes.
He folded his little hands and prayed, “God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food… and I’d thank you even more if Grandpa gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all. Amen.”
Nearby tables chuckled softly, charmed by his innocence. But one woman nearby muttered loudly, “That’s what’s wrong with kids today. Asking God for ice cream? They don’t even know how to pray.”
My grandson’s face fell. With tears in his eyes he whispered, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?”
I hugged him and told him his prayer was perfect. Just then, an elderly man from another table came over and said kindly, “I’m sure God loved that prayer.”
At the end of dinner, I bought the kids ice cream. My grandson looked at his sundae for a moment, then quietly carried it to the woman who had criticized him.
He placed it in front of her and said politely, “This is for you.”
Then he added with unexpected honesty, “Maybe ice cream will make you a little nicer.”
The entire restaurant went silent—but I’ll never forget that moment.
