Dear God
Thank you for the sun.
Thank you for the sun shining down today (even though it was drizzling).
Please help [Squiggle] to obey his teachers today and have fun.
And, help you–help Mommy not to get lost at work today.
Thank you for everything.
And, thank you for the sun again.
In Jesus name, Amen.
~ Little Drummer Boy’s “good morning prayer” on a rainy day
I read something somewhere in college (I would love to be more specific, but I just can’t remember, it might be Richard Bach, but I’m not really sure) that we teach best what we most need to learn. I’ve been trying to teach Little Drummer Boy about prayer by continuing a “good morning prayer” tradition I started with him as a baby. He’s learning. And, sure enough, so am I.
Our “good morning prayer” is a little driving-to-daycare tradition. I think it started with Mommy’s worried and tearful concern at leaving my baby boy in the hands of someone else during those first few months. The prayer was a way to keep my meltdowns at bay, attempting to entrust my son, my heart to God for his protection during the day. The drive seemed a fitting time to pray–modeling it for my children, starting the day on the right foot, and following the Bible’s prescription for worry. I’ve contintued the habit off and on for the last three years with breaks during the forgetful “baby brain” moments of pregnancy and the rotations when Hub took over day care duty. I began anew when Maggie started to “school.”
I usually pray for the same things every morning with small variations to meet each new day:
Thank you for today.
Thank You for the sunshine and the beautiful day You have made (when weather permits).
Bless Little Drummer Boy, Squiggle and Baby Girl with peaceful spirits and joyful hearts.
Help Little Drummer Boy and Squiggle to be kind to their friends and obey their teachers.
Help Baby Girl to eat well and sleep well.
Protect them and keep them safe all day long.
Bless Mommy and Daddy in their work.
Bring us together again for a good evening.
Thank you that you love us.
With this round of the renewed tradition, Little Drummer Boy has decided to take a more active role. He’s been wanting to say our “blessing” at supper time, so one morning I asked him if he would like to help with the good morning prayer also. He started by saying it with me for a few days and graduated to the prayer above on the first day he decided he wanted to say it ALL by himself. The prayer was his own take on what I pray every day–part repitition, part trying to copy Mommy, part pride in doing something new, part gaining approval, and part heartspeak to God’s ears. This week I’ve noticed some unprompted variations that speak to his own concerns.
Thank you for everything you made.
I pray that I can go outside today.
I pray that I will not have to go in time-out today.
After our “good morning prayer” I always remind Little Drummer Boy that he just talked to God, and we’ve been discussing how God hears us when we talk to him. LBD usually says, “yes, and then God says, ‘I am listening to you.'” I’m not sure where that came from, but I’m thankful that he’s learning to speak to God. I’m thankful that God is reminding ME of simple, but powerful truths through Little Drummer Boy’s simple prayers. I’m thankful that the God of all creation IS listening–even to the fledgling prayer from a little heart just awakening to who He is.
“I love the Lord because He hears my voice.” (psalm 116:1)
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of 
[…] I hope to put flesh on a review of a great mystery I read, lessons from my 3 1/2 year-old’s fledgling prayers, some comments on Mumbai, Baby Girl’s first two Gift Tags, a praise for something God’s […]