Prayers

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Pray constantly.
[1 Thessalonians 5:17]
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"I couldn't do it,
Lord."
(Smile up at ceiling!)
"I'd fall ASLEEP."

[PATIENT GAZE.]

"Like, JONAH!"

"What about him,
My beloved."

"Didn't they say,
he was in the belly
of the WHALE,
for 3 straight DAYS?"

[NOD.]
"Read It,
child."

"Yeah;
here it is:

And the Lord
appointed
a great fish
to swallow up
Jonah;
and Jonah was
in the belly of the
fish,
three days
and
three nights.
[Jonah 1:17]

Yeah; but,
I bet he didn't
PRAY, all that
TIME!"

[SOLEMN NOD.]

"Uh, UH!"

[NOD.]

"No WAY!"

[NOD.]

"Well....but,
how could he have
SAID, all that
fancy STUFF?"

"What stuff,
child."

"Like this:

Out the belly
of Sheol
I cried...
For Thou
didst cast me
into the deep...
and the flood
was round about me;
all Thy waves
and Thy billows
passed over me.
Then I said,
I am cast out
of Thy presence;
how shall I look
again upon
Thy holy temple?
[Jonah 2:2-4]

I think it would've
been more,
like this:

LORD?
L...O...R...D?
HELP!
HELP ME!
PLEASE?
P...L....E....A...S....E?
P....L....E....A....S.....E?
I PROMISE!
I PROMISE!
I WON'T DO THAT,
EVER AGAIN!
NEVER!
EVER!
I PROMISE!"

[GENTLE SMILE.]

"WELL?
The thing is.....
when you're REALLY
in a BIND.....ya don't
SAY all that fancy,
DO-DA stuff!"

"You don't,
child?"

"Nuh, uh!
You just SPIT it,
OUT!"

[NOD.]
"Ah.
I see."

"Yeah;
see what I MEAN?"

[NOD.]
"Where have you
been,
My child?"

(Squint.)
(Thoughtful pause.)
"Eh......."
(Gaze thoughtfully.)
".......in the belly,
of the WHALE?"

[TENDER VOICE.]
"And yet,
you have spoken
to Me,
child."

(Look away.)
(Embarrassed grimmace.)
(Shrug.)
"Yeah,
I guess."

[NOD.]
"Of many,
many things."

(Shrug.)
"Yeah."
(Look up at ceiling.)
"But, THAT's
DIFFERENT!"

"How so,
little one?"

"Well.....for ONE
thing,
Ya haven't SPIT
me OUT,
yet!"

[NOD.]
[CHUCKLE.]
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Rejoice always,
pray constantly,
give thanks
in all
circumstances;
for this is
the will
of God
in Christ Jesus
for you.
[1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]

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