the reality of prayer

When I teach my kids to pray, when we say our bedtime prayers, say the blessing before our meals, pray over scraped knees, do I pray in a way that is real? Do I talk to My Father before their eyes? Do I show them what it is to listen?

My children need to know God as a real person who hears them, to know the power of the words lifted up to his throne.


Today our new dog Optimus jumped the fence. The shelter volunteers said he was a jumper, so we knew it was possible. Spencer went out to look around the block and came back dogless, with equal devastation and determination on his face. I knew tears were being held behind a leaky dam.



(Lord! Would you lead us to this dog just to lose him? How would they cope? What would I say to mend their broken hearts?)




Back he went, with empty leash, while I watched out the front door. Then there was a flash of white, followed by a glimpse of Spencer's red winter coat, and just like that, all was right again with the world. He had come back home on his own - he knew where his new family lived. I turned around to see Nathan's bright eyes looking at me, "Mommy, I was praying that Optimus would come back." Sure enough, I had remembered him being very quiet on the couch. He knew who was in control and who was not. Now he knows a God who hears him.


Thank you, Lord, for all the times it "gets through." Even in spite of me.
And thank you for bringing back their dog.