Since Jovie has been old enough to be in an eating and bed-time routine, we have prayed with her during these times. Lately, we've been inviting her to participate out loud. And these have been some of the most sweet and rewarding times in parenting so far. I've yet to capture any on video - it feels a little irreverent and it's also unpredictable as to when more than the standard will come forth.
The standard is pretty cute. She claps her hands backwards over her eyes and says "Thant you, God, fo food. Amen, Jesus, Amen." We've been asking her if there are other things she would like to be thankful for, typically using loved ones or the day's events as an example. This past week at the Rozelles, the sweetest prayer ever prayed (so far) came out.
As we were all settling in for dinner one evening, I asked her if she wanted to pray. Given that there was an audience of six, I thought she would refuse. But, she put the backs if her hands over her eyes and said "Thant you, God, fo staying inside, goin' ouside, fo Christmas trees, Amen, Jesus, Amen." It was so enthusiastic and heartfelt, and made everyone's dinner!
A couple days ago, we had put Jovie in her chair for dinner, and Mike and I were still in the kitchen getting our plates ready when she started saying "Thant you, God, fo food..." She finished and immediately took her first bite. I'm not totally convinced that she wasn't just trying to get her first bite in more quickly, but it was still pretty cute.
Our bedtime routine, after several books and shenanigans, is lights out, pray, Daddy sings a song, Mommy sings a few. But a couple nights ago, Mike started singing before praying. She popped her head up from being snuggled in his shoulder and said "Let's pray!" At first we weren't sure what she said, but she insisted and repeated it several more times until we understood her. We were pretty proud of her.
Her little prayers are so simple and may be more based in routine than a truly grateful heart, but watching Jovie grow in her awareness of prayer has been a sweet reminder of pure and simple faith.
The standard is pretty cute. She claps her hands backwards over her eyes and says "Thant you, God, fo food. Amen, Jesus, Amen." We've been asking her if there are other things she would like to be thankful for, typically using loved ones or the day's events as an example. This past week at the Rozelles, the sweetest prayer ever prayed (so far) came out.
As we were all settling in for dinner one evening, I asked her if she wanted to pray. Given that there was an audience of six, I thought she would refuse. But, she put the backs if her hands over her eyes and said "Thant you, God, fo staying inside, goin' ouside, fo Christmas trees, Amen, Jesus, Amen." It was so enthusiastic and heartfelt, and made everyone's dinner!
A couple days ago, we had put Jovie in her chair for dinner, and Mike and I were still in the kitchen getting our plates ready when she started saying "Thant you, God, fo food..." She finished and immediately took her first bite. I'm not totally convinced that she wasn't just trying to get her first bite in more quickly, but it was still pretty cute.
Our bedtime routine, after several books and shenanigans, is lights out, pray, Daddy sings a song, Mommy sings a few. But a couple nights ago, Mike started singing before praying. She popped her head up from being snuggled in his shoulder and said "Let's pray!" At first we weren't sure what she said, but she insisted and repeated it several more times until we understood her. We were pretty proud of her.
Her little prayers are so simple and may be more based in routine than a truly grateful heart, but watching Jovie grow in her awareness of prayer has been a sweet reminder of pure and simple faith.
It was one of my favorite moments of the weekend. I think that prayer came from the bottom of her little heart:)
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