Bedtime Prayers

At the end of our bedtime routine with Brynna each night we pray. Generally the routine is diaper, jammies, stories, pray, lights out. Prayer time is not always Brynna's favorite part because she knows it means it's really sleepy time. Often when we tell her it's time to pray she'll start running down her toddler stall tactics list.

We often ask her if she wants to pray or if we should. Almost always she'll say, "you." Sometimes when Mommy or Daddy is finished praying she'll tag on her own little prayer. It goes like this, "Dear Jesus, I love You. Amen."

Well this week we had two very precious moments with prayer time. One night I was putting her to bed and praying for our friends and family. As I was wrapping up she urgently interjected, "And Marti's baby Mommy!" So we prayed for Marti and Baby Andy in her tummy. She was satisfied.

Then a night or two later Daryl put her to bed. Late that evening, long after Brynna had fallen asleep, I went in to peak at her. Daryl and I both do that at least a couple of times a night. She has always been a rare breed of baby that can sleep through or fall right back to sleep after a nighttime interruption (naps are different). Anyway, that night as I tried to sneak in, she lifted her head and looked at me. I sat by her bed and spoke softly to her, nothing in particular. She looked at me, touched my face, and said, "Me and Daddy prayed for you, Mommy." There's not much else in the world she could say to me me that would warm my heart that way.

Such a sweet girl. I pray that she will always have a strong rich prayer life.