I have a confession. We as a family are failing #familypray30. We are already a few days behind, and might not catch up within the 30 days allotted for this challenge. I hesitate to type this out because I am basically admitting that we couldn't find the five minutes to pray through the book each day. I love this prayer challenge, and I am going to finish it. It just might take us longer than 30 days!
As intentional as I am as a parent, and as intentional as we are about praying with our kids, life happens. Things get messy. We have had a full week of late nights and places to go with kids who were tired and overly busy. I forgot to bring the book with us on late nights. Then when we got home it was much easier to snuggle in bed and pray with each child than it was to gather them all sleepy eyed and frazzled to go through the book.
We could just throw in the towel, but I am still going to consider this week a win. I don't have to be perfect as a parent. I don't have to. No where is it dictated that we have to be perfect. No where. No where does it say we have to earn our way into anything. We are loved. We are created in His image. We are His. I am going to rest in that identity, and hopefully reflect that to my daughters as we imperfectly make our way through this challenge.
It is true, we didn't finish the book everyday, but here is why I think we won this week:
-We prayed every day. Together.
-We belted out praise and worship in the car.
-We read, and told bible stories.
-We laughed together.
-We thanked God for our blessings.
-When Bill and I were not home for the evening, our oldest led the younger two in bedtime prayers.
-When a firetruck drove by, sirens blaring, my youngest reminded me to pray for wherever it was going.
-When my middle daughter was feeling uncertain she came to me and we talked through it, prayed and offered it up to God.
These messy moments are moments of growth. These are the moments where faith is stretched, and lessons are learned. Messy and broken life moments are where my daughters are learning we don't just schedule time to be with God, we make Him a part of every moment.
