I believe in God. I believe he is the artist and creator of all of us. I believe that he loves me. I thank him for my husbandʻs endless patience, my daughterʻs constant companionship, my sonʻs innocent smiles.
I donʻt take for granted my belief in God because I know not everyone believes in him. As he has given us all spiritual gifts along with talents; belief and trust is what I have been given.
I trust that when I have a challenge or a question, I can turn to him. I don't always get exactly what I ask for, but when has it ever been good parenting to give your children everything they want? He knows me. He knows what I can handle and what I'm capable of just like he knows us all.
The first thing I learned in Hawaiian was the Lord's Prayer. At the time I learned it, I only memorized the lines. Now, I can use the structure to form my own prayers, to ask my own questions, and to thank him for my very own family.
Ka Pule A Ka Haku - The Lordʻs Prayer
E ko mākou Makua i loko o ka lani, e hoʻāno ʻia kou inoa.
E hiki mai kou aupuni; e mālama ʻia kou makemake ma ka honua nei, e like me ia i mālama ʻia ma ka lani lā;
E hāʻawi mai iā mākou i kēia i ʻai na mākou no nēia lā;
E kala mai hoʻi iā mākou i kā mākou lawehala ʻana, me mākou e kala nei i ka poʻe i lawehala i kā mākou.
Mai hoʻokuʻu ʻoe iā mākou i ka hoʻowalewale ʻia mai; e hoʻopakele nō naʻe iā mākou i ka ʻino; no ka mea, nou ke aupui, a me ka mana, a me ka hoʻonani ʻia, a mau loa aku.
ʻĀmene.