(I love listening to my children pray, and I want to record some things here in hopes that I'll eventually move the more personal version to my real journal!)
There is something completely pure and sweet about a childs prayer. The absolute faith that they have in their Heavenly Father and the sincere love that they have for their Savior Jesus Christ is one of the many reasons I believe we are told
“...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:2–4).
There is something completely pure and sweet about a childs prayer. The absolute faith that they have in their Heavenly Father and the sincere love that they have for their Savior Jesus Christ is one of the many reasons I believe we are told
“...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:2–4).
Caleb and I are no perfect parents. We raise our voices, we feel frustrated, and we have so much to learn. But if there is one thing that we try and be consistent in, it is prayer. We once read a talk that taught us to know the importance in prayer. As parents we are convinced that nothing has such a determining influence on life as does effective prayer. It can and should determine everything else, including our actions, attitudes, and responses in all that happens to us.
On the other hand, if prayer is neglected, everything else in life can be negatively affected. But if honored, everything else in life is graced. It is no wonder God commands parents to teach their children “to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.”
It's not easy to teach our children to pray. Most meals it includes a fight over who gets to say it, and most nights it includes a lot of wrestling Emersyn. But I just love how their little souls shine as they pray.
Last night Emersyn said her first prayer all by herself with no help from beginning to end. We were so proud of her! It was so simple and sweet. She blessed the food and gave thanks for many members of the family, and then closed. When she opened her eyes they were so big and lit up and I nearly teared up with love for that girl and for the example my girls are to me.
Adelynn's prayers are an example to us as well. I love the sincerity and innocence in them. That pure faith that everything she's saying is being heard, and that her prayers will be answered. Sometimes her prayers get almost funny. A few that we have loved have included...
1) To get a spacesuit and mask so she can go to saturn and jupiter
2) To be allowed to look at the moon from the telescope
3) That mom can have another baby after this one
4) To watch the new movie her dad got her
5) To make friends in Boise
6) (while helping her sister pray) to help Emi be nice to Adi :)
The faith of a child is so amazing I almost want to find a way to get her a space suit and send her to Jupiter!
Love my kids, and love how much they teach me everyday.
10 comments:
Agreed, kids prayers are the best. Adi seems to really want to join NASA. :) When I was watching Becca's kids while she was on her cruise Aspen prayed that her mom and dad wouldn't fall from the sky and that uncle Joey's leg would grow back, so precious! Kids are so fun.
BEAUTIFUL post! You are such a great writer!! Thanks for the inspiring post... now to become more like a child.
Such a sweet post Ashley. Kids can really put things into perspective for us adults huh. Such sweet little prayer memories.
Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog. I appreciate it.
I, too love to hear my kids pray. It's so fun to hear what they say. My kids' prayers are usually a wish list and almost always include a plea to go to Grandma's house! I love watching them learn in phases. Right now, Elsie has gone from clasping her hands to folding her arms and it really is one of the cutest things I have ever seen!
Okay, that cracks me up that Caleb is the 'fraidy cat of spiders! I don't know what I would have done. I guess you do what you have to do, right?!
That is the sweetest thing. She is so funny and cute. I love hearing Lily pray too although we still have to tell her a lot of the things to say because she's too shy or something to say them by herself.
On another note about the personal journal...I've tried writing a journal and it never lasts long so what I do now is I have my own private blog that nobody has access to but me and I write on that blog and then I just copy and paste on to my public blog unless it is too personal. Then every year I have that blog printed into a book so it's a journal with pictures and everything. I have been doing it for two years now which is the longest I have ever kept a journal. Anyway just a thought. sorry for the novel.
I have to agree with you. Kids prayers are the best! I love it when they pray please help me be good. I am still praying for the same thing!
I couldn't agree more... it's such a blessing to watch your children learn and grow. I still am amazed as Tydon picks up on new things to add in his prayers. Our children are such great examples to us... so loving and sincere. Thanks for the reminder :)
Kids' prayers are the cutest thing in the world--and sometimes really funny too! Sounds like you & Caleb are doing an excellent job teaching your girls! That's something we need to do better with, so thanks for the reminder :)
Loved that post. At least they are fighting over who gets to say the prayer. That is so sweet.
So darling! :)
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