Instructed by his devout mother to always shut his eyes during prayer for a deeper connection with God, a young boy named KT finds himself under the weight of admonishments whenever caught disobeying this directive. His mother consistently reminds him not to break “God’s rules.”
One snowy day, as KT’s mother drives him to school amidst treacherous road conditions and multiple accidents, she fervently prays for their safety. Observing his mother’s eyes wide open during the prayer, the curious second-grader gently questions her, “Mom, why are you breaking God’s rules by keeping your eyes open while praying?”
Realizing the impact of her teachings on her son, the mother apologizes and provides a thoughtful response, acknowledging that she may have failed to convey the importance of using wisdom in decision-making and service to God. She explains that certain situations, like the current one, require open eyes during prayer to ensure safety. She admits to potential misunderstandings, promises to be clearer in her instructions, and plans to discuss the matter more thoroughly later that day.
The story concludes with a broader lesson about the importance of avoiding overly general instructions, emphasizing the need for clarity and context in guidance, whether in parenting, teaching, leading, or mentoring.
NB: Johnson Babalola is a Canadian immigration lawyer, author, writer, storyteller, and story-based leadership trainer. Follow him on Substack, Medium and IG @jbandthings/@jbdlaw; FB: https://www.facebook.com/jbandthings and www.johnsonbabalola.com/www.tpmattorneys.com_
