Bedtime prayers are part of our evening routine over here. Its both an important and chaotic time of day. The big kids are all pretty familiar with the order of things, and Wavy kind of just wanders the room, harassing others while they pray. She picks up on more and more of the process as she develops and familiarizes.
Before we pray, however, there is toothbrushing and washing and peeing and all that good stuff, and kids lay on the floor and wrestle and snuggle and – lets be real – fight, until everyone is assembled and together. Wavy usually terrorizes Dekker or Laela, probably because they’re older and stronger, but yesterday, for one reason or another, she chose Rowan. She hasn’t chosen him before.
And he LOVED it ❤️
Dekker couldn’t barely hold back and not get into it, because its most often him at the bottom of the Waverly dogpile.
It was a pretty beautiful little scene. One of those times when the picture doesn’t look like much but their moms heart was totally exploding at this very moment.
After the kids all prayed, we said the Lord Prayer together. We implemented it a while ago, and now the four older kids all know it by heart. Once it started, Wavy folded her hands and started mouthing along, in her own words of course 😉 She swayed to it like it was music, and it grew to her foot stomping level of dance. It was adorable, and not at all distracting 😆 We all laughed our way through the prayer. As it wrapped up, we got to the last line, “forever and ever,” and before we could say “amen” she threw her hands up and said it! She knew the timing of it well enough to know it was about to end. I couldn’t believe it. It thrilled my heart, and I imagine it thrilled Jesus’ as well.
It was a good thing for me to witness. I know that not all of my children grasp the full concept of what praying to Jesus actually means and looks like, and maybe they don’t mean everything they say or recite. But no one can convince me that its not worth the time and effort that goes into it. My little girl is only 1.5 years old and I think she actively pleases the Lord. She has a song in her heart, and I can’t wait for her opportunities to share it to grow! Meanwhile, the other kids are so wise and understanding of God and who He is and how we need Him.
Thank God for God!
I have always loved praying with your kids……..and this is a heart warmer in the extreme! Good Mama!
Often, some of them go along with their “usual” prayer but when it changes, you know they’re really thinking about it, and I LOVE that. Like, the day Rowan prayed to be healed from his lactose intolerance. Or, when they’re not excited about the meal in front of them, saying “Thank you that we have supper.” They’re SUCH wonderful kids. Glory to God!