The Silent Prayer and the Missing $20
A mother took her 5-year-old son, Billy, to church every Sunday. She was trying to teach him the importance of quiet reverence during the service, especially during the long, silent prayer when everyone bowed their heads.
One Sunday, during the silent prayer, Billy noticed a $20 bill sitting on the carpeted floor right under the pew in front of them. It must have dropped out of someone’s pocket earlier. Excited, Billy reached out his hand to grab it.
His mother immediately caught his arm, gave him a stern look, and whispered fiercely, “Billy, no! Put your hands together and close your eyes. We are talking to God right now!”
Billy obeyed, closed his eyes, and put his hands together. But he couldn’t stop thinking about the money. So, he decided to pray out loud in a very clear, sweet voice that echoed across the quiet church:
“Dear God, thank you for showing me where the twenty dollars is. Please make sure nobody else opens their eyes and sees it before the prayer is finished. Amen!”
Within two seconds, half the congregation opened their eyes and looked down at the floor.
