Amelia has almost outgrown whining or groaning when she wants something but Timothy and Ezra have taken up that battle cry. Their words are coming now. They parrot new things they hear daily, some decipherable and some not so much. When I had a chance to say bedtime prayers with Timothy, I started with “thank you, Jesus, for” and I waited for Timothy to insert something or someone he’s thankful for before I prompted “and what else?” His list usually includes five or six people before it begins to repeat.
Last night he went through the usual recognizable names. Mama and Dada were followed by a new word. Thankfully I had heard him use it several times earlier in the day. Each time he came to me, arms raised, repeating “bup” to be picked up in the kitchen, he saw the cake plate with the last Apple Pie cupcakes his mom had baked. After dinner, I transferred the empty container to the sink to wash. Timothy noticed it immediately and began announcing, “All gone. All gone.” I won’t attempt to spell what he pronounced as he prayed. Suffice it to say, tonight he was very thankful for cupcakes!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalms 107:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.107.1.NLT
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Psalms 100:4-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.100.4-5.NLT
Were I to begin a list of people and things I am thankful for, it would equal John’s description of Jesus’s work on earth.
“Jesus also did many other things.
If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.”
John 21:25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.21.25.NLT
Praying with my grandchildren is the flip side of what I remember of prayers with my own children. I was so exhausted by the time I spent the twenty to thirty minutes with each of them in turn before bed. Their precious prayers seemed to go on and on and on, especially when they were very young. They listed every known relative, friend and pet by name, everything in their rooms they could see in the dimmed light, food they’d eaten, books we’d read, and places we’d been all in an attempt to prolong bedtime.
When I pray with my grandchildren, I tend to be the one who goes on and on. I want them to hear, as I did with my own children, that talking to God is an ongoing conversation where amen does not mean the end. I want them to feel how easy and natural it is to converse with my Heavenly Father because He is theirs too. I want them to see my vulnerability and surrender and the deep trust I have in God. I want them to know His plans are perfect and timely and for our good. I want to allay their fears by placing them at the feet of Jesus before closing our eyes to sleep because I know He holds tomorrow and He holds me. Much is communicated to anyone in earshot of our spoken prayers.
“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.4.5-6.NLT
“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29 NET
https://bible.com/bible/107/eph.4.29.NET
“You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.”
Psalms 139:4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.139.4.NLT
There are times when I feel as if I’ve prayed all the prayers I know to pray over a particular situation. I’ve lived long enough and experienced enough of God’s goodness and faithfulness to know that I do not need to keep repeating myself in an attempt to gain His ear. I come to Him with my mind and heart open before Him. Nothing is hidden from His sight. In those times, I find that opening my Bible or listening to music with God honoring lyrics is to my advantage. I am often prompted by something I read or hear to see the situation from a different perspective. I gain words to express the deepest desires of my heart. I find peace in His presence knowing He intercedes for me before the Father in concert with His Spirit in me, communicating more than words ever could.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:26-27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.8.26-27.NASB1995
Tonight my nest is empty, save my husband, who is out feeding the fish, and our Dane, Jake. Peals of delight echo in my mind but as I sit on the porch under the darkening sky, I hear the wind and birdsong. Jake thoughtfully explores the corners where the children played, sniffing out what remains of their sweet baby scent and the crumbs of their scattered snacks. No one will wake me wanting water or need to be comforted tonight. I’ll fall asleep whispering thank you to my Father in heaven and should He choose to bring me into another new day, I’ll wake with gratitude on my lips, knowing His mercies are new every morning.
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
Psalms 4:8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.4.8.NLT
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.26.3-4.NLT
Good night, God bless you, and sweet dreams!
A Fitting Reply 