We put this question to X Standard students belonging to various religions: “How do you relate to God? What is it you do when you pray?” Here are their simple and frank answers.
God is my Friend:
I relate to God as my friend who is always there for me when I need him. Whenever I say a small prayer, I feel the comforting feel. I pray to God to protect my family, bless them take care of them and protect them. I also thank for all the good things in life. (RIshima Attavar)
I consider my God as friend whom I tell all my darkest secrets. I pray that He may always bless me and my family and, help me keep away from sin. (Henrika Crasta)
I ask God to bless me:
I relate or pray to God to bless me and strengthen me to face all the difficulties in my life and provide me a healthy life and help me in my studies. (Rachan K.)
I place everything before God:
Prayer is a communication between God and man. I place numerous wishes, desires, needs, greeds, aspirations before him. As I am studying in Xth grade I pray for good health and retentive memory. Besides, I also pray for my family, friends, teachers and loved ones. (Soumini Hegde)
I thank and ask:
When I pray to God, first when I pray to God, first of all I thank Him for all abilities and skills He has blessed me with. I ask God to shower His bountiful blessings on all the people who love me and all the ones whom I love. (Haleema Nafisa)
I pray to God for good health of all in the world. Let all be happy and lead a good life. I pray to provide me with good and help to face all difficulties. I thank him for whatever he has given me, especially for giving me such loving parents. I also ask him to give everyone such parents and they to live happily. (Vyshnavi O.)
God understands:
When I pray I just pray that God protect me, enlighten me and take care of my family. When I pray I pray only this much. I know God will listen to my prayers and will understand my feelings. (Arel-Leora D’Souza)
I pray for help and guidance:
Prayer is really very important in our life. Through prayer there will be an understanding between God and me. When I pray, I ask God to help me not to get distracted to bad things. I also pray to God to help all the students to excel in their studies and for the good health of our principal, teachers, staff and the students and to protect them from danger. (Angel James K.)
When I pray to God the first thing I pray for is to keep me and family and all people I’m acquainted healthy. I pray to God always that I excel in the Board exams and make my parents and teachers proud. I pray to God that my dream may come true and I may become someone I want to be in life. I pray to God that help me pass all the hurdles of life with ease and a tonne of courage. (Andrea Magdalene Pais)
Whenever I pray, I pray God to shower his blessings upon me and my family happy and healthy. I pray to Him to guide me whenever I make a wrong decision, and do what is right. (Abhay R. M.)
God, our Father, listens to children:
I relate to God as a father, who may be strict but kind at heart and always ready to help his loyal children when they are in danger. I pray for concentration in my studies knowledge, betterment of my family and give me strength to face my problems. (Aaron Patrao)
God accepts children’s prayers fast and being a child I pray for the fulfilment of people, their health, let there be equality in all the cases for all and special prayers for my loved ones who brought me to this world—MY PARENTS and my family members and let their love spread amongst all the people. (Zaha Haleema)
In everybody’s Religion they say that God listens to Children’s prayers. In our house we pray five times a day. I pray to keep my parents and me healthy and happy. God listens to every ones prayers whether it is a bit late. (Sanjana Rao)
I feel helpless, unworthy, grateful:
I relate to God like a helpless person, not worthy of his praise. God is the sole reason why I excel every day. With His graces, I am the head girl of this school, have won several competitions, I am an all- rounder and I perform well in my studies.
When I pray to God, I ask Him to help me in everything I do, to give me health and to be a good person everyday. I never forget to thank the Almighty for His blessings showered upon me. (Blanche Rodrigues)
God listens:
In everybody’s Religion they say that God listens to children’s prayers. In our house we pray five times a day. I pray to keep my parents and me healthy and happy. God listens to every one’s prayers, even if it is a bit late. (Anaam Ahmed)
I pray for those who suffer:
When I pray, I pray for the welfare of all who are suffering and my family members. I also pray to God to help me concentrate while studying. (Shreya A.G.)
My day starts and ends with God:
I pray to God everyday. My day starts with God and ends with God. God plays a very important role in my life. I pray for my well-being and my parents’ well-being. I pray to God to keep me strong and determined and concentrated in my studies. I pray to God for physical and mental well-being, to keep me physically fit and emotionally strong. (Shrishty)
When I see an ambulance…
All the time when I pray what I ask is to keep me away from stress and chaos. I ask God to keep me, my family and my known people safe. I ask God to provide me with a retentive memory and a peaceful mind. If I see an ambulance passing by on my way to school or home, I pray for the good health of the suffering person and his family to pass through such a difficult situation. (Tanisha Adarsh)
I pray for the sick:
When I pray to God I pray for my parents’ good health. I pray that all the people who are having various diseases should be cured and should enjoy their life. I pray for the 10th and 9th std students to make our board exam easy. I pray that poverty should decrease and everyone should be happy. (Khadija Muina)
Thanks for yesterday! Help me today!
When I pray to God, I first thank God for showering his blessings and giving me this beautiful day. Where upon I take an opportunity to prove that I am worthy of this day. I thank God for the last day and wish that tomorrow may be as fresh as today. Then, I pray that I get the concentration and good memory power required for me to excel in my board exam. I also pray for the good health of all the people who have served this world. (Sanjana S.)
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(MAGNET thanks Sr Philomen Saldanha, Principal, St Theresa’s School, Mangalore, for collecting the answers from the students.)
