Mauie Flores

My Grade 5 student's Christian Living lesson for the week focused on the seven sacraments and their roles in our Christian faith. One of the activities in the lesson that we studied was making a Dayenu.

According to the textbook, a Dayenu is an ancient Hebrew prayer of praise to God. It's a way of recognizing and appreciating everything that God has given. Day in Hebrew means enough. In praying the Dayenu, the Hebrews acknowledge that God has given them so many gifts and it would have still been enough even if He only gave them one. The traditional Dayenu is composed of 15 stanzas, 5 stanzas each are focused on leaving slavery, on God's miracles, and on being with God.

The purpose of the activity is for us to think about and name the many ways that God acts in our lives. My student was tasked to make only 3 stanzas of his own Dayenu. I made 5. Here's what I have written:

Dayenu

If You, O Lord, had only given me my friends,
It would have been enough.
But You gave me friends
who make living each day worthwhile!

If You, O Lord, had only given me my family,
It would have been enough.
But You gave me a family
Who surrounds me with love and joy!

If You, O Lord, had only given me my husband,
It would have been enough.
But You blessed me with a best friend
To spend the rest of my life with!

If You, O Lord, had only given me my son,
It would have been enough.
But you blessed me with a gifted child
Who brings us pride and joy each day!

If You, O Lord, had only given me my life,
It would have been enough.
But You gave me a sweet life
By carrying me through my darkest days.

Composing the Dayenu made me think about all the blessings I have received from God ever since. I feel I have never thanked Him enough. Let this Dayenu be a reminder for all of us that our Father in heaven does not just give gifts but rather gives the best gifts in the world!