Prayers are special in our home. Like the saying goes, "A family that prays together stays together." We really feel like a forever family when we pray together. About a year ago, we learned a children's song that has changed the way we gather for our "family prayer" every night. It goes like this:
Let us gather in a circle
And kneel in family prayer
To thank our Heavenly Father
For the blessings we all share.
As we sing the song, we hold hands, form a circle, and we spin around and then kneel together. It has helped the boys learn to be reverent for the prayer and it also helps when we start singing to remind them to stop what they're doing and come for prayer. Sometimes we let them say the prayer, sometimes we do the praying. We've taught them that they should thank Heavenly Father for things and then ask Him to bless us in different ways and to bless others who need it. As they've gotten older, they don't want us helping them, and the things they say are very sweet and sometimes downright funny.
For instance, Braden is very fascinated by the Holy Ghost. In the beginning, he thought we were talking about a real ghost, one that went around saying, "Ooooooooh!!" That kind of thing. haha He'd say, "Where's the Holy Ghost, Mommy?" Anyway, in his prayers, instead of telling him what to say, I've been letting him choose what to say. Almost every time, he will thank Heavenly Father for the Holy Ghost. What can I say? I'm appreciative that my child is so in tune with God's spirit and loves it!
The other day, Braden had a tantrum that left me exhausted. He followed me around for quite awhile demanding that I hold him. I didn't want to hold him because he'd been rude. Finally, he said sorry and then I gave a nice lecture on why we should be kind. I told him that when we yell and scream it makes the Holy Ghost want to leave. I didn't know if he was listening or not. But later on, at dinner, he asked to say the prayer. Usually, he makes it very fast and very short. However, this time, Daddy prodded him to include that we should be more kind, which I guess got him thinking. He said, "And help us not to be mean and make the Holy Ghost will go away." Except it was in his super sweet 3 year old voice. It touched my heart so deeply, I almost started crying! He WAS listening!!
Last night, Trapper was out taking a friend to the airport, so the boys and I had family prayer by ourselves. I let Jackson say the prayer and in his prayer, he asked Heavenly Father to help them "beat Bowser, with the pokey back." Darn that stupid wii for consuming their lives, because that's all they think about! Hearing him say that made me laugh though. I'm just glad that they feel like can ask Heavenly Father for help....even if it is about the wii. And of course, when they said their own personal prayers, they prayed again to be able to beat Bowser. Bowser is the bad guy on the Mario Brothers game, just in case you didn't know what a "bowser" was.
Today, during the sacrament meeting, Braden started playing with his shoelaces. I reached over and asked him if he wanted me to show him how to tie his shoes. He nodded his head, so I gave him the tutorial of how to cross the laces and then to make bunny ears and so on. After that, he was determined to figure out the bunny ear thing. I could just see the determination in his eyebrows. I love that about him. When he wants to learn or do something, he gets very focused and doesn't easily give up. Later, when church was over, Trapper went to the nursery room to pick up Braden. The teacher complimented Braden for being so smart. It made Trapper feel good 'cause sometimes we wonder if we've taught Braden enough. I feel like it's very easy to overlook him because Jackson's constantly in the way wanting to do everything first. Does that make sense? Anyway, it was nice to hear the teacher talk so pleasantly about him. She went on to say that he gave the opening/closing prayer, and in his prayer, he asked Heavenly Father to help him learn how to tie his shoes and do the bunny loop thing. haha! I love that! I think what makes me happiest is that he immediately goes to his Father in Heaven and remembers to ask for the little thing that he desires most. It's so easy just to say the same things over and over in our prayers and to get into a rhythm about it, but like Braden and Jackson, we should remember the little things that we need help with and pray to God about it, because I think He wants to hear about those things too....well, unless it's something trivial, like the wii. I may be wrong, but I don't think he cares so much for the gaming world. lol
Today, during the sacrament meeting, Braden started playing with his shoelaces. I reached over and asked him if he wanted me to show him how to tie his shoes. He nodded his head, so I gave him the tutorial of how to cross the laces and then to make bunny ears and so on. After that, he was determined to figure out the bunny ear thing. I could just see the determination in his eyebrows. I love that about him. When he wants to learn or do something, he gets very focused and doesn't easily give up. Later, when church was over, Trapper went to the nursery room to pick up Braden. The teacher complimented Braden for being so smart. It made Trapper feel good 'cause sometimes we wonder if we've taught Braden enough. I feel like it's very easy to overlook him because Jackson's constantly in the way wanting to do everything first. Does that make sense? Anyway, it was nice to hear the teacher talk so pleasantly about him. She went on to say that he gave the opening/closing prayer, and in his prayer, he asked Heavenly Father to help him learn how to tie his shoes and do the bunny loop thing. haha! I love that! I think what makes me happiest is that he immediately goes to his Father in Heaven and remembers to ask for the little thing that he desires most. It's so easy just to say the same things over and over in our prayers and to get into a rhythm about it, but like Braden and Jackson, we should remember the little things that we need help with and pray to God about it, because I think He wants to hear about those things too....well, unless it's something trivial, like the wii. I may be wrong, but I don't think he cares so much for the gaming world. lol
2 comments:
Those are such precious little stories :)
Brinkley and Caelen do the same things. Caelen just learned a new song, and in her prayer the other night, said, "And thank you that I learned a new song. Listen:" and proceeded to sing the new song to Heavenly Father.
I can just see Heavenly Father with the biggest smile when He hears His littlest ones pray.
Love you all!
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! i loved that whole post. and yer amazing! wonderful mama teaching them to pray. we might need to follow in your footsteps with the circle in prayer song.
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