Rylee's First Prayer

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

~Probverb 22:6~

This verse runs through my head almost every day. I think one of the biggest responsibilities that Darrin and I have when raising our children is raising them in the Lord.

Yesterday, Rylee said her first prayer. She's "helped" me pray before (like thanking God for people in our life while we say bedtime prayers) and she's mummbled prayers before in the car but this is the first time that she said the prayer all by herself. Darrin, Rylee and I (Jake was there too...but crawling around somewhere) were all sitting on the floor while Rylee was using fork, spoons, cups, a shoe, a comb and any other imaginative toy she could grab, to make some us "somting to eat. nummy nummy!" :) After stirring, seasoning and pouring - She gave mommy, daddy and herself each a cup of her homemade invisible concoction. I said, "ok we need to pray before we eat!" Rylee immediately folded her and Darrin asked "Does Rylee want to say the prayer?" With eyes tightly shut and her little hands folded she said "Dear Jesus,...............AMEN!" :) It was short but oh-so-sweet. My heart just jumped for joy and my eyes filled with tears.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

That word "train" constantly jumps out at me. To train means "to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction" --- form habits...By discipline and instruction. It's OUR job to form those habits in her. They're not just going to "happen". I know that Rylee doesn't understand what she's saying or doing or what "praying" really is --- and that's okay. I know that it starts with us instilling the instruction and forming her habits --of prayer and of everything else (going to church, manners....everything). Right now, she doesn't need ot understand why she's to do certain things, she just needs to form the habit of doing them. It's OUR job to train her up in the way she should go. Not society's, not church's not their school. It is OUR job. That's a tall order. It's a big responsibility the Lord has put upon us parents. I pray that we can be diligent and faithful in our own walk with the Lord so that when it comes to instilling, disciplining and forming habits in our children - we're not saying "do as I say and not as I do." I pray we never forget that.