Doesn’t it seem like there have been back to back to back tragedies in our country lately? Newtown, Boston, West, Moore… What is going on? As an adult, I don’t even know. When my kids ask my husband and I questions that we have a hard time answering or explaining, we have found that praying as a family works well.

Here is what prayer does for us and our kids:

  • As we pray for those tragically affected, somehow it helps us from feeling useless. We have done something important. We have prayed. If we make prayer important and an automatic “go to”, our kids will understand that they, too, can utilize it as a natural coping mechanism.
  • It shows our children that we don’t always know everything, and that is okay. But, we can always turn to the Lord for answers, comfort and guidance. If we set this example, they will know how to do this – even if we are not there. I can only hope that the children involved in these recent tragedies knew how to pray, and that they found some comfort doing so during their time of distress.
  • Prayer releases our burdens. I know our son, Garrett, carries his heart’s burdens around for everyone to see. He worries about things that many wouldn’t give a second thought to. (He recently asked me how he should ask his future wife to marry him and then said, “Oh no, Mommy, what am I going to do if she says no?!”) (He also smelled smoke outside our home the other day and was sure we were about to be ravaged by fire and become homeless.) He is seven and his fears are real and they are BIG! Showing Garrett consistently, through prayer, that God cares for him and wants to carry his burdens for him will hopefully create a lifelong, faith-building habit.
  • Teaching our children how to pray helps them to express their feelings and needs. Their thoughts and feelings ARE important! How can you not feel incredible if the Creator of the Universe not only hears, but WANTS to hear, from His children.
  • It is an amazing event when a child’s prayer is answered. And, it is an important lesson when an answer isn’t given in the time a child expects it to be. Either way, we know that God has our best interest in mind and it is important to trust Him. Yes, showing our kids the example of how to truly trust in God is one of the most important spiritual life skills we can pass down to them. If nothing else, this is “the legacy” I hope to leave my children.
  • Prayer shows the health of our relationship with God. Communicating, releasing, sharing, questioning, crying, thanking, enjoying, blessing, being, freeing, faith-building… No relationship can be healthy without consistent communication, listening, sharing and trusting.

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

These verses really say it all. For me, as mom to my kids, I really just want to live my life according to these verses. Unfortunately, I am human and life can be overwhelming at times and I get upset or go into panic mode. Surprise, I even yell! But, when I remember God’s truth for my life and put my trust back in Him, then His peace really does surpass all understanding. It’s not about me being a perfect mom. I honestly fail at that, pretty much daily. It’s about me being a real mom, who is faithful. I am imperfect, but I love the Lord Jesus and when it is all said and done, I TRUST in Him. That’s what my kids know, because they see me pray.