Teaching Prayer
Wow, I have not written in quite some time, summer is in full swing and we are busy as ever.
This past Sunday the "prayer in school" (or lack thereof) issue came up both in Bible class and our Sunday night small group. I think I was in the minority because the issue just doesn't bother me all that much. I'll try and illustrate. I don't buy into the notion that our society is in shambles because we "took prayer out of schools." Now that I am a father I believe more than ever that Abbey's spiritual nurturing must happen at home, from both Rachel and I. And I want to instill in her at a young age that prayer is not just something we do in the morning, before each meal and just before we go to sleep each night. Of course all those things are great and I understand the whole "bedtime prayer thing" and how that is a special time with your toddler. But sometimes I tell Rachel that I don't think we should focus so much on the bedtime prayer and the prayer before each meal but rather start to teach and model that prayer is something we can and should do all day...and we don't have to stop, close our eyes and fold our hands.
That being said, the fact that when she starts school and sits in her first hour class and does not start the day with a "canned" prayer doesn't bother me all that much. Instead, I hope that I can teach her to be in such a relationship with God that everything she does turns to prayer. And that just her presence with others can be ministry because of her vertical relationship with her God. So whether she's on the swing set, science lab or school bus, every breath she takes...she prays.
And nobody can ever put a stop to that.
This past Sunday the "prayer in school" (or lack thereof) issue came up both in Bible class and our Sunday night small group. I think I was in the minority because the issue just doesn't bother me all that much. I'll try and illustrate. I don't buy into the notion that our society is in shambles because we "took prayer out of schools." Now that I am a father I believe more than ever that Abbey's spiritual nurturing must happen at home, from both Rachel and I. And I want to instill in her at a young age that prayer is not just something we do in the morning, before each meal and just before we go to sleep each night. Of course all those things are great and I understand the whole "bedtime prayer thing" and how that is a special time with your toddler. But sometimes I tell Rachel that I don't think we should focus so much on the bedtime prayer and the prayer before each meal but rather start to teach and model that prayer is something we can and should do all day...and we don't have to stop, close our eyes and fold our hands.
That being said, the fact that when she starts school and sits in her first hour class and does not start the day with a "canned" prayer doesn't bother me all that much. Instead, I hope that I can teach her to be in such a relationship with God that everything she does turns to prayer. And that just her presence with others can be ministry because of her vertical relationship with her God. So whether she's on the swing set, science lab or school bus, every breath she takes...she prays.
And nobody can ever put a stop to that.
6 Comments:
Kids will cause one to learn how to pray with out ceasing! I am so thankful Abbey has a mom and a dad who share their faith with her every day.
I agree Klint, that was very well said. I've gone back and forth on this issue and I think you have me convinced.:) Great post!
i pray that you will post some new pics.
Clint,
Check out: http://bradfordlstevens.blogspot.com/ for more pix
bradfordlstevens, i did and i will. Grandparents are always the place to go for pictures. thanks
Hi Clint, Bob & I just love your blog and always read it. It makes us feels so good knowing what is happening with a family that truly love!
I had a comment about the prayer in school, Your father always said we may be the only bible some people read, well, I feel the same way about prayer any where but mosty in school because this may be the only place these children hear a prayer and get some bible knowledge.
I find that people that have always had money often don't understand the poor and the folks that were raised in the church don't understand that some people don't pray at all and don't know how.
I didn't know all of the bible stories until I took Bob Nortons new converts class and man was I excited when in church they would say you all have heard the story about ? and I finally did.I hope this makes you think about all the kids that don't know the stories and don't pray like you did.
God bless you and your family and am so glad that you all are doing so good. In Christ Bob & Marvel
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