It can be tempting to dismiss a child’s desire to pray for a moose on the side of the road or a doll with a torn arm or a much-desired app or video game. Who among us adults, however, has not prayed to move safely through a stale yellow light or for the appearance of a specific piece of mail or for the attention of a certain someone?
By acknowledging the reality of a child’s feelings, wants and needs, we communicate to the littlest of Jesus’ followers that it is okay to trust God with all our prayers.
Most adults struggle with the mystery of faith, as well as frustration and confusion about how God answers prayers. Yet we know that we have been taught to turn to God with all our needs. The more often our children see us do exactly that, the more they will come to understand prayer as a resource in times of excitement, anticipation, confusion, sorrow and anger.
This message is excerpted from “Teaching by doing” by Julia Seymour in the September 2018 Gather magazine.
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