Praying with Isaac

I had a surreal moment at bedtime tonight. I had to teach Isaac how to pray when he's sad. 

I still remember telling Larry how I knew it wasn't right, but I had a hard time praying when things were bad. I was mad at God. Why would I want to talk to Him when I couldn't understand why He was allowing bad things to happen in my life? Turns out my 4 year old feels the same way. So I had to teach him, as my husband has taught me, that the first place you need to go when you're sad is to God. 

I've learned the past couple of years that God doesn't create sadness. He brings you out of sadness. God doesn't desert you. He waits for you and comforts you. He's not the one to blame. 

Tonight at bedtime I let the boys pick out their pajamas. Isaac was given three chances to pick out pajamas and chose not to, so I picked out pajamas for him. Funny how putting on pj's that your mom picked out makes you realize you really wanted those Thomas pj's. But the chance was given, it was lost, and it was time to get dressed. He cried and I hugged him. I've been there. I've messed up too. I've blown my budget for the month and cried at the end because I was sad. It didn't matter that it was my fault. It still sucked. And I knew he felt the same way. So I hugged him and he hugged me and we talked about how next time, he can pick out his pajamas, but that tonight, the choice was gone because he didn't pick out the pajamas when I asked him to. Everyone got in bed and it was time to pray. Jared prayed first because he always prays first. He likes to talk to God. He tells Him everything that happened during the day and thanks him for lots of things. Tonight he told God that Isaac was "crying, crying, crying." Isaac told me he didn't want to pray, so I prayed next. Then it really was Isaac's turn, but again, he told me he didn't want to. I asked him why he didn't want to pray and he said those words I've felt so many times: "Because I'm sad." 

And all I could think tonight, December 14, the night so many lives have been changed, the night so many are going to bed sad, tonight I was thinking Aren't we all. 

I told Isaac that was the best time to pray. This is what I said:

Praying to God is just talking to God. And God wants to know everything about your life. He wants to know when you're sad, when you're mad, when you're happy, when you're excited. He wants to know all of it. He's the best one to talk to when you're sad because He will always be there to comfort you.

And I couldn't help but think of the daughters of the principal who was killed today. The little girls going to bed without their mommy to comfort them. 

I asked Isaac if he wanted me to teach him how to pray when he's sad and he nodded. So I told him to repeat after me:

Dear God, I feel very sad. 

His little four year old voice repeated me. 

Help me feel your love tonight.

At this point, he said to me, "I can do it myself now! Dear God, I feel very sad. Help me feel your love..... what comes next, Mommy?"

And all I could think of was those parents who won't get these moments. So I continued.

Give me peace that only you can give.

"Give me peace only you can give."

Dear God thank you for all the blessings you give us. Amen.

"Dear God, thank you for all the blessings you give us. Amen."

He hugged me goodnight and I cried as I carried Grayson down the stairs. I thanked God for the opportunity to teach my sons to love Him. I cannot comprehend this type of evil. But I do know the best thing for me to do tonight is to pray.