I admit it, I am a Pinterest Junkie - though, admittedly I have spent less time on it lately than before. I am happy to say, however, that I do tend to actually use the pins (though not nearly as many as I have re-pinned...not even half as many.)
One of those projects a few months back was a prayer jar. Pretty simple, really. A mason jar, some popsicle sticks, some paint and a sharpie marker. An afternoon of entertainment for Alyssa left us with a completed project with a practical purpose. I took an evening to write the names of as many friends and family members that I could fit onto all the sticks that would fit in the jar. Now, each night before bed Alyssa pulls a stick from the jar and says a prayer for the person whose name is on it.
This has been such a fantastic experience. Each night it has allowed us to focus on different people that we love and think about what is going on in their lives and pray for their difficulties, give praise for their gifts and show gratitude for their love for us. Alyssa is slowly learning that prayer is personal...it is not just a ritual that we go through at certain times of the day, such as before meals or before bed.
The focus on prayer has also opened the door for us to pray at random. When she gets hurt and is beside herself we try to remember to stop and ask Jesus to make the pain go away and heal the boo-boo. When she is cranky or having a tired or off sort of day (especially if we are going someplace like a friend's or Sunday School) we try to stop and ask God to give extra patience and kindness. When she is frightened (like when she is getting ready to go down the huge waterslide) we stop and ask Jesus for courage.
It's been good for me too. Reminding me of the importance of prayer...more than that...reminding me of the importance of conversing with my God. There is power in prayer, anyone who knows the Lord knows that.
Tonight Alyssa came running out after getting all ready for bed and asked me if I would do prayers and bedtime with her. "Sure"...though I couldn't help but notice this weird twinkle in her eye that said 'I am up to something'. Sure enough, we got to her room and I told her to pick out her prayer stick. She said "I already did" with this crazy grin. She held up a purple painted popsicle stick that said MOMMY. With a giggling glee she said "I spent time during quiet time looking for the one that had your name on it because I wanted to pray for you!!". Heart melt round one.
All snuggled up in her bed together we laid there while she prayed. "Dear Jesus, please help Mommy have a good sleep and have a good day tomorrow. Thank you that Mommy loves me no matter what. Thank you that Mommy takes so good care of me. Jesus please help Mommy to keep following in your footsteps everyday. Amen."
Wow. She is listening; really listening. Each night when I put her to bed I pray over her and with her. I pray for her day and her sleep and I pray that she continues to grow into a wonderful young lady who listens to God and strives to obey Him. Her prayer for me were all her words, I swear. Right down to "follow in your footsteps". I don't even know where she learned that phrase.
God is good. God is great. God is doing fantastic things in the heart of my little girl. Growing her into a phenomenal individual who is loving and compassionate. An individual who is starting to understand that she can lean fully on God and rely on Him for any strength that she will ever need. This Mommy couldn't be happier about the good works that the Lord is doing in her baby girl.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." ~ Proverbs 22 : 6
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