I don't make a habit of grading prayers. But Afton often says really sweet and thoughtful prayers. After Aunt Susan had her knee surgery and Afton was a little scarred by viewing the scar on Susan's knee, Afton prayed that night that Aunt Susan's "knee will get better, and her surgery will go away." Once she gave thanks for "our walls and furniture, and the roof, so rain doesn't get in our house, and on our books, and on our furniture, and on our toys, and our other things." She contemplates things she is grateful for, and does a good job or remembering things that she wants to pray for.
But tonight, if I was handing out grades, Afton's prayer would be the one that sets the curve for our family prayers. We had a night with two little girls being quite emotional. It was one of those nights: play super well together, get too silly, then when it's time to wind down feelings get hurt, a little (or a lot) of pouting ensues, tears follow, and then we all love each other again. So after giving thanks and asking for Stef's knee to get better so she can walk without a brace or crutches, Afton said, "Please help us to not not be nice, just while we are little, so we can learn, and when we are older we can teach the babies that are in our bellies." What a simple, yet profound, thing to pray for, and a very cute and odd way to ask it. She followed by praying that none of us would "get sick, or hurt, or anything else that we don't like."
Behold your little ones indeed.
