Madeline: “Our father who is in heaven, halloween be your name . . . ” or “Now I lay me down to sleep, keep me ’til I love you more.”
Noah: “Our father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, leader snot into pertation, deliver us from evil, the kingdom, the power, amen.”
Ben: “Thank you Jesus for this day; thank you for everything you’ve done for us, help us to have a good day tomorrow. Thank you for Wilby, Themby, Jonah, and Ketchine [our Compassion and World Vision kids]. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. Amen.”
Ethan: “Now I lay me down to sleep. Pray the Lord my soul to keep. Ummmm. Ummmm. Mumble, mumble, mumble. Pray the Lord my soul to keep. Amen.”
Ellie: “Now I lay me down to sleep. Pray the Lord my soldier keep. Ummm. I can’t say my prayer.”
Renee: “Oh, God. Please help me. I don’t know if I can do this. I’m not very good at this. What am I doing? Help me to be rational and grateful and a good mother. Thank you for Dale. Help him to not be so tired and grouchy. Thank you for my children. I love them. I love you. Amen.”
Dale: “Oh, God, if this is what it’s going to be like, I don’t think I can hold up. Make me strong, Lord. I need you, Jesus, to come to my rescue. Thank you for my wife. She’s an amazing mother. Help me to love her and support her in the way she needs. Thank you for my precious children. They are so amazing and beautiful. Thank you for their safety and health. Give them a passion for you, Lord. Teach them your ways. Help me to be a good father. I can’t do this by myself. I love you. Amen.”
Jesus: “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
namesake - we all of us 
When I read this I was reminded of 1 Samuel 16:7 “…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Keep praying
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You’re always forgiven 😉 My prayer is for D to allow Jesus back in his life and for him to love us as Jesus (and Dale) loves His children (and wife) families….
How can it be that everyone but ourselves can sometimes see the goodness that is there? The positive influences we actually share with others…?
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I liked this post best!!!
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This made me smile…in one of those quite contemplative types of ways!
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Now that’s just precious!
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i wish my prayers were that honest.
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I laughed and I cried and I was quiet as I finish the Christ prayer. Kids are so beautiful and honest. Thanks for sharing this post.
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how honest and true. i also read your other blog via kj’s blog, but i can’t find it… however, i love it. it’s about mansions. i kudoed you on kj’s page. 🙂
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see you friday JC 🙂
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When my girls were a few years younger, they tried to “get away with” saying the same prayer at bedtime, that they said at mealtime. In an attempt to expand their prayers into something more meaningful, I suggested one night that they should: “Say something more meaningful to Jesus, something that matters.. like, please help those who don’t know you, come to know you.. something like that”. For years afterwards, all prayers began with, “please hap those who know you, come to know you..”. enjoyed this.. keep it up!
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