A few weeks ago Darryl and I were privileged to attend a production of “Snapshots” at Lighthouse Christian Center.  This production is made up of individuals sharing “snapshot” personal stories of God’s involvement in their lives.  Our daughter Elizabeth performed one of these snapshots based on a childhood experience.

She told of a time when she was three years old, playing behind a large recliner at a church member’s home, with the wife sharing with me how she didn’t think she could stay in the marriage.  This very new concept of married people not staying together shook her to her core.  It brought fear and panic into her little heart.  It was a tipping point to cause her to cry out to God, praying that He would always take care of her.  She committed her life to Him that day, alone behind that chair and He heard her heart cry.

I cannot tell you what “routine” or formula we used  to teach Elizabeth about prayer, so that in this very critical time of her young life she would cry out to Him so completely, because in all honesty we didn’t have one!

What we did do was pray around her, with her and for her.  I know we also prayed many “rote” type prayers—meal time grace, bedtime protection and thanksgiving for answered prayers.  We prayed for boo boos and pets.

When difficult times would come, we would pray.  When we needed wisdom, we would pray and somehow it was transferred to our children that prayer works!  

A few days ago, I talked with a big brother (who is 11) of a little girl who has two types of leukemia.  He has some hard and big questions he wishes God would answer.  Why not him?  Why did it have to be his sister?  And other such questions. 

We talked for awhile about the blessing of talking to God about all the things that upset and bother us, and how God likes it when we talk with Him about things we don’t understand.  He knows how to pray.  He knows how to talk to God about these hard things.  He doesn’t like it that his sister has to go through all the things she does.  He doesn’t like the fact his mom has to be away so much caring for her.  But at the end of our conversation he said, “I guess, I just have to trust Him”.  What a precious gift his parents have given him.  The ability to know God is with them during this hard time and that he can talk to God about it- and does!  

The children of today hear about the wars that take mommies and daddies away, soaring gas and food prices and like Elizabeth, marriages failing and other very scary things.  We need to teach them they have a God to whom they can turn.  Life can be challenging enough, for us, as adults—how much more for  children?  Encouraging them to talk with their Heavenly Father helps add stability and grace into their lives.

Please understand, I do not think we taught our children perfectly about prayer.  Do I wish I had do-overs?  (You, know, the ability to turn back the clock and do a season of life over).  Of course, here are some of my do-overs in regards to prayer.

1.  Taking the time to really pray with our children more.  I remember feeling the mama tireds:  You know, if I can just get through bath time, story time and prayer time I can finally get some time of my own.  My do-over would try not to rush through those precious times and take the time to pray with them and encourage them to pray aloud for whatever was on their hearts—no matter how long it took!

2.  I would have spent more time allowing God to show me the special differences in each child’s relationship to Him and pray for greater insight on how to help them grow in the way He made them.

3.  If I knew then, what I know now, I would trust the Holy Spirit as He drew my children to Him in His ways.  I would try to be more sensitive to His moving in their lives.

4.  I would encourage them to pray large.  Even larger than they did!  To believe God could lead them to see mighty things done for His Kingdom.

5.  I would celebrate more with our children all the answers to prayer we received.

We can’t live with regrets, nor do we get “do-overs”, but we can begin today to teach others by our own example how to pray.