We were gathered at my daughter-in-laws for dinner, and were getting ready to eat. Not all of us could be there that time, but my great-grandson, who is 2, was there. As we prepared to pray, his grandma said ‘Let’s pray’ and we all bowed our head, and as is customary at these times we clasped our hands together for prayer.
All except yours truly, who failed to do so.
As his grandma was praying, I heard a tiny voice say “Pray, Pah-Pah, pray.”
I immediately understood my error, and clasped my hands in prayer.
I’ve since thought about that, and here’s some things I thought (think).
He was observing the adults in the room as we prayed. How impactful are the adults in a child’s life! Especially the parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles (and even great-grandparents). Sometimes kids don’t seem to be paying attention, but they ARE, and they learn so much by example, by seeing how others behave in certain times.
He wanted to make sure we ALL were praying, and his gentle reminder to me signified it was important to him, and it should be important to me.
He has an example of the importance of the physical attitude of prayer, and it can enhance the mental and spiritual attitude of prayer. Jesus often went to pray alone (Luke 5:16), just as he often prayed with others, and taught them to pray together (Acts 1:14). He taught to “…go into your room, close the door, and pray….”. (Matthew 6:6)
I was reminded of the ‘still, small, voice’ with which the Lord spoke to Elijah (1 Kings 19). Wind that broke rocks, an earthquake, and a fire storm passed by, but then the ‘still, small, voice.’
“Pray, Pah-Pah, pray.”
And Jesus said to them, “…Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” (Matthew 21:16)
THE RIGHT RENDITION 