A Lesson from Prayer

We were all sitting around earlier today, when Sophia bowed her head and began whispering. When Delia and I continued to speak, Sophia announced it she wanted us to "pay" (pray). She grabbed our hands and announced "pay," "pay." So we followed orders and bowed our heads. She began to whisper again. A few seconds later she stated, "Amen."

She led us through this ritual several times. She would call us to prayer, grab our hands, bow her head, and begin praying. Finally, she stopped to pray by herself. She bowed her head and began to rattle off a prayer that only her and the Lord understood. However in the midst of her inarticulate prayer she said, "Help, Daddy" and then "Help, Mommy." She repeated both phrases two or three times. Then she said, "Amen." Looking up from her prayer, she smiled at us.

When we pray with Sophia, I often asked the Lord to help us to be the daddy and mommy we need to be. I ask him to help us shepherd her little heart into his fold. Seeing her praying, encourages me to know we are headed in the right direction. If we continue to cling to the Lord, he will see us through any difficulty. It also encourages me to see that our transparency is being caught. She knows we need help, because we have told her so. She also knows where we turn for help--to the Lord.

Watching her pray has also reminded me of an important reality. Children learn as much from watching our lives (maybe even more), than from hearing our words. If we want Sophia to continue to seek the Lord in prayer, then we have to be sure and model it for her. With the Lord's help we will continue to teach her to pray by both word and action. We will continue to pray for her, too, so that she may grow up strong in the Lord.