Many people blanch at the idea of praying out loud. Yet prayer is one of the major tools that comes with being a child of God. Helping children craft simple prayers teaches them that they, too, can talk to God, expect to be heard, and be reassured that their concerns and requests are valid. Prayer can and should develop along with a child’s development. As writing and reading skills improve, so can prayer. Asking a child to pray at a meal (beyond a memorized prayer), offer thanks for a good day, or pray for you in a certain task will help to grow perseverance in prayer and resilience that builds on baptism’s foundation.
In addition to prayer, reading the Bible, acts of service and participation in a faith community require practice, practice and practice. Not every attempt at a project is going to work the first time. Even more likely, the project may work but not have the intended or hoped-for result. Yet the Holy Spirit still renews our toolbox, so we can go forth and attempt God’s work again with our hands, feet, mouths and resources.
This message is excerpted from “Resilience” by Julia Seymour in the November 2016 Gather magazine.
Copyright © 2024 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected]. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.