learning to pray

As Nate learns to pray, we are focusing on thanksgiving. My thoughts on this are that I don't want his introduction to prayer to be asking God for things, but also thanks is a simple aspect of prayer for him to understand.

I adore Nate's prayers. I have never told him what to pray. Rather, I pray thanks for various aspects of our day and our lives, then I tell him he can have a turn, too. He prays whatever he wants. Sometimes he prays things that are very sweet. Sometimes he prays things that an adult would never thank God for (but might be thinking!).

Occasionally, I write Nate's prayers down in my prayer journal. They are things I want to remember in years to come, but there is no space for this in his baby book.

Tonight, Nate prayed:

Thank you, Jesus, I had fun playing in the dirt. Thank you for Daddy, and for Ben, and for Nate, and for Mama, and for poop, and for chocolate, and for Don and the [con]ductor [characters from Dinosaur Train]. Amen.