A long, long time ago (Probably 1982), in a land far, far away (a place I call New Jersey) there lived a little girl about the age of 8 (That's me if you haven't guessed!)
That little girl was Roman Cathlic by birth. She attended a school called CCD so that she may learn about her religion and eventually be taken into the Church when she became old enough.
Well before that happened, this little girl had a Wizard for a teacher. This Wizard's name was Mrs. Hoffman. Mrs. Hoffman ruled her small kingdom and all those under 5 foot with varying attitudes.
Since it has been so many years, this little girl doesn't remember much about the Wizard.. just a few things here and there, but one thing stands out in her memories and sometimes terrifies her to this day.
When the Wizard was instructing one day, she had all the children of the kingdom recite for her the Lord's Prayer. The children did so eagerly, hoping to please and astound the Wizard with their knowledge. Once they finished, however the Wizard came down upon the children with her strong and scary wrath!
"No!", the Wizard cried out. "No, if you do not say the Lord's Prayer correctly you will go to Hell!"
The children were amazed and stupified. This is how they had been taught; this is the only way they knew. What did they do wrong? They looked at each other questioningly.
What the Wizard taught the children was that towards the end of they prayer, you do not end it with, "...Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen." Oh no! No, no, no... You must continue on with, "For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen."
If you did not say your prayer like this, you would indeed go to Hell the Wizard decreed over the land.
So, to finish our story, to this day, over 20 years later, this little girl has grown up and still wonders if she does not say her prayers right will God not listen and turn a deaf ear? Will God say she must go to Hell, because she was a bad little girl and did not learn her prayers correctly? And why in tarnations didn't she speak up when she was 8 and say something to an adult to find out if the Wizard was really just off her rocker?
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Comments: 30
Does anyone else feel weird saying forgive us our sins... when no one else is praying with you?
I say the Lord's prayer daily... but I always add additional prayers, petition, intercession (for others in need) praise and thanksgiving. Sometimes I just sit and talk with him (in my head if people are around or aloud in private)... like he's right here with me and he's my best friend.... of course because he IS!
It's not so much what you pray... but that you mean it sincerely.
Fear not Kathryn.... God isn't going to judge you because you "missed a word!"
Blessings to you!
Reciting the "Lord's Prayer" is not talking to God............
The Wizard was a fake................