Family Practice

Did your mom or dad help you say your 'night prayers' when you went to bed as a child?  If so, you were SO blessed!  It's a wonderful time for a parent to know what the child is thankful for or is anxious about, and also a good time to say, "I love you!" and "Goodnight!"  What about your own children, if you have any, are they blessed to have you say night prayers with them every night? 

What about prayers before meals?  Both with my mom, dad, and brothers, and then with my own children, we never failed to say, "Bless us, O, Lord, for these thy gifts. . ."  If you only say prayers at these two times, regularly, that is the very least we can do for our children to hopefully help develop their own prayer lives.

Some families also say a prayer of thanks after meals.  Mom and dad didn't think of this, nor did I.  But I wish I had developed this simple practice.  One thing my mom did do was to light a candle at home and pray a special prayer for my success if I had something really important going on, such as a test at school or try-out for something special.  She'd say, "I'll light a candle and pray for you."  I've done this at times with family or friends.

Prayer is the POWER OF THE UNIVERSE!  Nothing or no one is more important or more powerful than God!  Remember what Jesus said as related in the Bible, Matthew 18: 19-20, that if two or three "are gathered in my name, I'm in the midst of them?"  Jesus often prayed to His Father at many times.  Prayer is simple communication with God, like just chatting with a friend.

It helps to memorize certain prayers of your religion as a child.  These will serve a person well, for a lifetime!  It is the responsibility of both parents to teach prayers to their children.  Like you, you want your children to meet God after death, and God says, "Hi, I know you, come on in! (to heaven forever!)"

Prayers are also good when spontaneous, at odd times, such as praying for safety when beginning a trip, praying for the safety of the sick person in a passing ambulance, praying for a sick relative or friend to recover, praying for a promotion, praying for a job, prayers for sorrow after a person's death, prayers of thanksgiving, etc.

Once, on a blistering hot day on a trip, I was tired but thought I could go up just one more steep stairway.  Before I reached the top, I thought I might faint and sat down.  My atheist companion was so worried and cried out, "God, help her!"  It worked!  After a few minutes in the shade, I felt cooler and stronger, and proceeded.

You will never regret any prayer to God and you especially you won't regret teaching your children how to pray and praying with them regularly!  I promise!!

Dear Lord, it is quite interesting that the more I pray to you, the more I want to pray to you!  More than that, it also gives me focus and energy!   Thank you for my parents teaching me how to pray, and for Your Church now, that I may pray with family and friends.