Dan: teaching him to say his bedtime prayers

Posted by spots (Singapore, Singapore) on 21 September 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

So since Daniel can say a lot of words, we've started teaching him to say a bedtime prayer which goes like this, "Thank you Jesus for milk. Help me sleep well. Help me obey my parents in the Lord. Please bless my family. Keep us safe and well. Amen."

What we do is we'll say one line and then he'll repeat it. Or at least, that's supposed to be how it goes. In reality, it goes ... more like this:

Me: "Ok, Daniel, time to say prayer."
Daniel smiles & jumps into my lap. Daddy holds his hands. We all close our eyes.
Dan: (of his own accord) "Thank you Jesus for milk. Help me sleep well."
Me: "Help me obey..."
Dan: "Parrots"
Me: "No Dan, say Help me obey..."
Dan: "Parrots in the lawn".
Me: "Daniel, say Help me obey...." (stifling giggles)
Dan: (all this while, his eyes are squeezed shut) Obey... parrots in the lawn.
Me: "Please bless my family..."
Dan: "Family..."
Me: "And keep us safe and well."
Dan: "Healthy..."
Me: (sighing) "Dan, say And keep us..."
Dan: "Safety.... Healthy.....Parrots"
Me: *pregnant pause* "OK ok, close enough!"
Dan: "AMEN!!!!! I want milk!!!!"

Boy do we have a long way to go!