Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Praying Small

For months I have been pondering the issue of how to involve my children in praying bigger than 'thank you God for my lovies.' It is my heart's desire for them to 'get' how big and powerful and awesome of a God we serve. He created the Earth. He holds all past, present and future in His Hands. He is Almighty, All Knowing, All Encompassing Lord.

Yet, I want them to know Him as their Abba Father who delights in them and loves them intimately and personally. To quote an old Nichole Nordeman song I love, He is 'small enough' to hear us. He is a heaven-dwelling God who stoops to hear the concerns of our heart. He knit K, P & R together in my womb. He knows the hairs on their heads. And He cares about the little things in their life, like the stuffed animals they love.

As I reflected on it again tonight I realized that in their 4 year old world...those precious lovies are no small thing. They are the ultimate source of comfort and strength for my children (aside from their parents) and they are deeply personal items that they do not share with siblings.

I am also reminded that this great Lord wants to woo them unto Himself. I do not have to manipulate, orchestrate or in any way make them love Him. (Frankly, that would most likely backfire anyway.) The best thing I can do for my children is model an authentic, growing, loving relationship with God--one that they can watch and find to be the real deal. It is not instantaneous. It is a long obedience that likely includes biting my tongue as they thank God again for their lovies as they are tucked in each night.

If those lovies are the physical representation of the warm, loving and secure thoughts they associate with God as they drift off to peaceful rest, I rejoice and thank God for them too!

5 comments:

Jayce Tohline said...

Like you said,The best thing you can do is live your life large and model before them.This post reminded me of a letter my 23year old son gave me for mother's day. He said, "You have done such an awesome job raising us and imparting your self into us. Thank you for leading us down the right path by your actions. We have noticed everything you have done and the things we have picked up are such positive attributes that we carry." (Since i don't have my own blog i am using my husbands address)
Blessings, Diane.

Colored With Memories said...

amen!

my first didn't have a lovie...i wanted her to so badly, but never could get anything to stick.

this post makes a lot of sense to me...because my second has a lovie...it's a very real thing to them!

Bailey's Leaf said...

My K- is learning more about praying. We've always prayed with her, but it's amazing to see her wanting to pray for things on her own. She told my husband that she wanted to pray for Miss Jane (a neighbor) when she was taken away in an ambulance. The other day while we were on our way to Amish Country, there was a herd of cows next to the expressway. (We live in Ohio and this is not normal.) A police car in front of us swept across the lanes to aid the other officer and K- asked that we pray for them. The officers and the cows. We did. Our drive down the road was praying for the safety of both.

Isn't it great when our little people know that they can reach out to God for comfort?

The Williams Brothers said...

http://www.poppyjoy.blogspot.com/

I'm an avid reader of your blog. Here is another I enjoy. She has a wonderful idea regarding Christmas that reminded me of you.

In His love,
Jennifer

BuckeyeNP said...

I love that NN song...oh Great God, be small enough to hear me now...

love your blog as always!