I often forget to tell my kids key information.
Last week, I was sitting in church with a child on every limb. One, with his head in my lap, another leaning against my shoulder and one climbing up my leg.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus, wanting a brief moment of stillness. The child at my feet tapped me and waved a book in my face. “Mom, will you read this to me?”
I opened my eyes. “Sure, in a minute I want to talk to Jesus really quick.”
The child looked around, eyes wide “Is her here?”
I smile at him. “No, I just mean in my heart.”
“How?”
And I realize, my two-year old used to say fantastic, very untraditional prayers. He would look around and name everything that he loved.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I love Mom, and Dad, and I love Anna…..” etc. There was no asking and no thanking for anything. I had thought he was just talking to God like he would a friend….but no, he was just talking out loud. And recently he’d stopped. Maybe he didn’t see the point.
So, I explained that prayer was a way to talk to God and that sometimes you feel something in return. He nodded, climbed on my lap and patted my cheek.
That night, he reminded me to say prayers before bed.
Other things I forgot to tell them recently:
I forgot to tell them that if they get angry and throw something at a wall, it will leave a hole. The same thing will happen if you punch it.
I forgot to tell them that when you shower, soap is essential. Shampoo too. When you run out ask for more. Please don’t just rinse with water for a week – Same with toothpaste.
I forgot to tell them, you have to turn off a pan after you take food out of it, or it will smoke and set off the fire alarm.
What am I forgetting? Help me get ahead of the game here.
Read Part 1 of Things I Forgot to Tell them here