My wife (Denise) and I have a 2 ½ years old son (Hunter), and just had our second child (Tanner) on August 24, 2006. They are a great blessing. They learn and grow so fast. It is hard to believe that Hunter is 2 ½ years old. Denise and I had opted for the third time not to find out if baby was a boy or a girl until the baby was born. Every night before bedtime we sit down on the steps and pray. This is a wonderful time for us as a family to share with each other and our Heavenly Father. I wanted this to be a wonderful family tradition for us, to tell each other we love each other and to talk to GOD as a family.
It actually starts with snack time. Hunter has a snack, then he has a shower or a bath. Next, Hunter rocks and sings with Denise. They always sing the same song “Jesus Loves Me”, but Hunter does not always sit or rock with Denise. Hunter loves to sing. Some nights he sings very softly and other nights I am surprised our neighbors have not come over to find out what is going on. Then I wait for Denise and Hunter to join me at the stairs. Hunter runs up to me and gives me a great big hug, most of the time now it is a “Tackle Hug.” We sit down on the stairs to pray. I start by saying “Dad loves Mom”, “Dad loves Hunter”, “Dad loves Baby” (“Tanner” since we now know have him), and “We all love each other.” In early August I was to this point where I say “Let’s pray” and Hunter chimes in “No, No, No, Hunter prays.” Hunter tells me to move and sit next to Denise. Then Hunter starts “Hunter loves Mom”, “Hunter loves Dad”, “Hunter loves the Baby”, and “We all love each other.” “Thank you God for Mommy, Thank you for Daddy, Thank you for Baby, Thank you for MamMa (Grandma), Thank you for Jesus, Please bring rain, Amen.”
Hunter prays every night, sometimes it is a very quick pray “Thank you for Jesus. Amen.” other times he will pray for everyone he can think of at the time. Many nights Hunter will remind me to pray for certain people. Still other times he will repeat what we have prayed. It brings great joy to me to hear Hunter repeat something good that I say. There have been other times Hunter has repeated something he has heard someone say. This reminds me that someone is watching and listening all the time. Yes, GOD is watching and listening to us, but we also have children, family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers watching and listening to us. I am glad to hear and know that Hunter wanted to tell us he loved us and he loves GOD.
I Timothy 4:16
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
JP - an IronMan
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1 comment:
They must teach the short prayer in Cradel Roll. Ben does the same things. Sometimes they are all encompassing and sometimes they are just Amen! Anyway, Ben asking me to pray with him at the end of the day is one thing that makes me the happiest. Let's hope that we will always have prayer time with our wives and children.
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