Everybody should have a friend like Ralph. He can fix a lamp or a lawn mower, refinish furniture, build bookshelves. All by himself he has transformed his garage into a workshop and completely remodeled his mother's house.

One day, marveling at these results over coffee, I asked, "Ralph, where did you learn to do all this?" Thoughtfully he sipped his coffee, his blue eyes twinkling. Then Ralph gave me the word of his own special prayer:

Jesus stand beside me.

Guide me and direct my life.

Teach me what I need to know.

Help me with my work.

Let me serve you and others,

That I may be worthy of God's grace.

    Ralph's special prayer has become a part of my own life now. I say it every morning. And all day. Whenever I am anxious or confused about a situation, one phrase comes to my rescue: "Teach me what I need to know." Of all the things Ralph has done to help me, his prayer has helped most of all.

Marjorie Holmes