I love to hear my kids pray.  I guess because it's something that we've always done, they just automatically drop their heads, fold their hands, and get very serious (mostly).   Their prayers can be incredibly profound (in a childlike way), and tend to reflect what we have discussed during the day and the things that are going on in our lives.   I also cherish them because they are reminders of things I would never think to pray about.  A recurring prayer for Gabe is this: "Dear God, please protect the astronauts.  Don't let them get too close to the sun and die."   He has been praying that for several years, and as far as I know, God has answered that one!  Friends of ours are in the midst of a divorce, so recent prayers reflect an attempt to understand why, and he prays that, "...even though I don't like to see Mommy and Daddy kiss, please let them always kiss so they stay married."   

On our camping trip, the boys met another little boy who was camped with his family, and they formed an instant friendship.  They played at the edge of the water, and we overheard much of their conversation.  They talked about where they lived and what they liked to do.  Gabe asked Trent (6) if he had ever  been camping, and Trent said, "Sure, all the time."  Gabe said, "Well, it's our first time.  My Mom doesn't like to be dirty."  They also talked about movies.  Gabe is hyper-aware of movie ratings, and knows that most PG movies and all PG-13 are off-limits.  He leaned over to Trent and kind of whispered in his ear-
"Have you ever seen a PG-13 movie?"  Trent said, "Yeah, I snuck into my aunt's van and watched a really scary movie."  Gabe said, "Did you tell your Mom?"  Trent said, "No way!"  Joe stands up, looks at him, points his finger, and says loudly, "God says that's not right."  And Gabe said, "I would definitely tell my Mom if I were you." 

We laughed and laughed because their comments were so characteristic of their personalities.  Joe is extremely moral.  Whatever I tell him he not only believes but lives out.  He believes that God means business and whatever He says goes. Modern-day prophet, perhaps?  And Gabe, who is extremely sensitive (to scary stuff as well as any sin he commits), tells me every little thing that gets into his head or bothers him.  It can be overwhelming at times, but his conscience is so tender that he can't stand to keep anything inside.  It was neat to know that something we have taught them has stuck in their little hearts.  

We studied ancient Greece last semester, and we spent quite a bit of time talking about myths and the gods the Greeks worshipped.  I think the boys were feeling a little superior about the fact that they worship "the one true God,"  and the Greeks had a different god for everything.  Joe would pray, "God, please let those people try to worship just the one God because it's just too confusing to pray to all those other guys."  And after reading The Odyssey, he prayed, "God, please let Odysseus get home to Penelope.  She must be so lonely without her husband."     

Little Ben has started to open-up more during prayer time and wants his turn too.  He often prays for Elvis (the boys think of Elvis in an iconic kind of way- I'm not sure why- we're not big fans). He prays that Elvis will stop taking drugs and not die again (he loves Elvis' music and just doesn't get the fact that he's not around anymore)  He's all about bad guys and blood and guts and typically prays protection for our home and safety from our marauding rooster (he has attacked Angel and come at me 3 times). 

I don't know how long their openness to praying with us will last.  Growing up, we never, ever prayed as a family, so I have no frame of reference for how it will evolve.  My prayer, though, is that they feel comfortable and safe and that it never ends.  Our spirituality is so fragile and so easily crushed.  I want to nurture that openness in them, because I know the days of questioning will come.  Hopefully, though, they will be well-equipped and will always return to their foundation.