"Um, hey, God?"

"Dear God, Thank you for this food, and please help mommy not to get angry and shout at us. Amen."

Bowed heads then raised and hands reached to begin the meal.

"Hey, Tuck, do you know why mommy gets angry sometimes?"

"No," he said, serving himself a sizable portion of grapes - only the purple ones, setting the green ones aside.

"I don't just get mad for no reason. I get angry when I have to say the same things over and over again because my children don't listen to me."

"Oh. I see."

"So maybe you could pray instead that God will help you to obey so Mommy won't have to say the same thing a million times and then lose her patience?"

"Okay. Everybody close your eyes."

All around the table, we closed our eyes. Take two.

"Um, hey, God? Could you... could you help all of us... the kids, Mommy's kids... to be happy? Amen."

I nudge his elbow and whisper to him, "And to obey."

"Oh, yeah. And to obey. Thanks, God."

If we're going to preach in the prayer, let's make sure we cover the facts of the situation. Include everyone at the table who needs prayer, please.