Hi Friends,

I gotta be honest… I originally started this letter with a sentence telling you about a new way I’ve been praying with my youngest as I tuck him into bed. And I do want to tell you about that.

But first…

In the spirit of full transparency, I must admit that praying with him in this new way came about because of my big fat failure in the “praying mom” category.

You see, my youngest is squirrelly.

He goes to bed first (in protest), and as he lays there being tucked in, he tends to cause “accidental” avalanches from his Mount Everest of stuffed animals (the ones that line the full length of his bed, making it a full project to ever change his sheets, which is why I fail to do so in any kind of regularity… but one mom failure at a time).

Bedtime with this son was getting so chaotic that I left off prayer entirely. We sang. Which is fine.

But I wanted to pray.

So my next attempt at praying over him each night ended somewhere with me pausing mid-prayer to tell him you’re too old to not be able to be still for a prayer and shut your eyes and can you just be quiet for a moment and I’m going to just leave the room if you can’t lie still already.

You get the picture. Not pretty.

Fast forward to our newest approach. Most parents, especially of boys, know that peace and quiet is simply too far out of the ballpark to ask for, but controlled chaos. Yes! That’s the ticket.

I told him I would be praying for parts of his body, and when I named them, he should wiggle them or move them as part of the prayer.

…mouth… Cartoon-like lips go crazy.

…hands… Fingers wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

…feet… Legs start buzzing up and down.

…mind… Gets a weird look in his eye, and I have no idea what he’s trying to move.

…eyes… Blink, blink, blink.

You get the picture.

And as we pray the simple prayer, I’m reminded again of how complicated we can make connecting with God.

How many times do we wake up, overwhelmed by all we have to do, maybe feeling like we’re starting from behind with all that was left undone the day before?

We may not be causing stuffed animals avalanches, but our distractions have grown up to look more like worry or complaint.

Perhaps simple prayers are the way forward for us, too.

God, fill my mouth with truth and kindness today.

Let my hands serve readily and give generously even in small things

Cause my feet to be quick to bring Gospel light wherever I go.

Fill my thoughts and heart with your love. Bring stillness and peace.

I want to see You everywhere.

Do you have any simple prayers you whisper to start or end your day? I’d love to hear them.

I have, at the very least, learned that I can use all the help I can get :)

– Anna