Do you teach your children to pray?

When I heard the news of the shooting in Connecticut, I just broke down in tears. My heart was, and still is, heavy for that community and those families. I have spent quite a bit of time asking God to give those families rest  in the knowledge that He will conquer all in the end. It has been a week since the horrific event, and yet, every time I hear anything about it, see pictures or even just think about it, my eyes tear up. And now they show the funerals and caskets for those little babies... I can not imagine the loss of a child. My family has been through a lot in the last year, but the loss of those families make my problems seem minuscule. It really puts your life in perspective. Makes you appreciate what you have just a little more. Makes you hug your loved ones a little tighter. Makes you remember that the little things that drive you crazy really don't matter. Makes you rethink your priorities.

On the day of the shooting, my kids walked in on me bawling my eyes out and of course wanted to know what was wrong. After telling them, my 6 year old son said that he hoped all the children and adults who died knew Jesus and that their families know Jesus. His reason? So the families left behind know the children are now safe in heaven with God. He is so intuitive. He knew that the families were in pain and hurting and at the same time he knew to turn to Jesus for comfort. I love that about him.  He amazes me constantly with his insight and direct line to God. He is constantly my teacher. He is such a special kid. I know God has incredible plans for his future. 

Several years ago, I made a decision to transform my walk with Christ. I made a conscious choice to seek Him daily, to pray and to teach my children about His love for us. My kids see me pray and meditate on God's word during my personal devotions. We pray as a family during our family bible reading. We pray before meals... most of the time! My kids are the ones who remind me when I forget! My kids pray each night before bed. And most importantly, we pray when we feel the need arise.

In this picture, my children are praying over the Operation Christmas Child boxes that they packed. They each prayed for the child that would receive it and that upon hearing the Good News he/she would accept Jesus into his/her heart.

I love hearing my kids pray. I love it when I hear them just "talk" to God. The things they choose to pray about and the things for which they ask amaze me. I would guess that 99% of their prayers are giving thanks. They thank God for his creation. They thank God for things they have. They thank God for the people in their lives. They spend so much of their time thanking God for everything! I love that they have hearts of thankfulness. They even thank God for things that haven't happened yet, like the healing of our family, things they want and better yet about Jesus' return to earth to conquer sin.

Both my eight year old daughter and my 6 year old son have an incredible grasp of the fact that God has a plan for their lives and that all they need to do is be thankful for whatever it is.  Then they can rest in the knowledge that it will be done and everything we go through helps to mold us into the person we are going to become. Even in the face of the "bad" things that have happened, we have been able to look at them as a way that we might be able to help someone in the future. Even if we can't fully thank God that they happened, we can thank God for the lives we might be able to help from sharing our story. Amazingly, they "get" it!!

I think they have such an amazing grasp of their relationship with God because they already know that they have a direct line to Him. They can talk to Him anytime, anywhere, however they want. They can share their deepest darkest fears, secrets as well as their happiest, joyful moments! They are constantly teaching me. When I pray and ask God to provide groceries, my kids are thanking him for the food in our bellies. When I pray and ask God to please help us with our house struggles, they are thanking God for the roof over our head. When I pray and ask God to help my hubby and I be better parents, they are thanking God for us. I have learned so much from my children regarding prayer and have adapted their thankfulness prayers into my daily routine! I learn so much more from them than they will ever learn from me!

When talking to your children about prayer, listen to their innocent hearts and grow with them. Help them to adapt a heart of thankfulness. Teach them that its OK to turn to God whenever we feel like it. And when we are faced with a horrific tragedy, after doing your best to explain it, help them turn to God. Help them turn to prayer and know that God is better than a best friend, because He is always there to listen.

This is a picture of our Elf on the Shelf after the school shooting. She brought 27 candles and asked us to take a day of prayer and light a candle for each life lost. We said each person's name and asked God to comfort the families that are mourning. We also thanked God that we have each other. It was a good way to open discussion about the events that had taken place. We continue to pray for those families. My heart is just broken for them! I know that the only place they can find comfort is in our Creator. My hope is that you and your family will join us in prayer.