The following excerpt is from a book entitled "We Didn't Know They Were Angels" written by Doris W. Greig.
Dear Lord,
My little Janie cuddles in my arms and says, "Let me paint a down face on you, Mommy."
It was her own idea; no one taught her this little game but we play it often together.
She paints my face in imaginary colors and I paint hers in turn.
We play this pointless little game over and over again.
Lord, grown up people play this in their game of life, too.
They paint on a smiling face so that the world can't see their fear, sadness, defeat, misery, bitterness, and emptiness in their hearts.
Please, dear Lord, help me to see behind these grown-up clown faces show me the need of each heart that you send across my path by your Holy Spirit
And, Lord, I ask you to show me how to help them drop their clown faces and reach out to you.