| Teaching children to pray is very important. The | | | | children are little they may not understand the word |
| purpose of prayer is to help your child develop a | | | | "love" but they certainly understand the emotion. You |
| relationship with the Lord. Teaching your child how to | | | | have been there for them from the beginning and you |
| develop love and patience helps them better | | | | can share with them how God has been there for |
| understand the nature of God. Here are some tips to | | | | both of you from the beginning. |
| help you. | | | | We all have learned patience when we pray because |
| Praying should be out loud. Your child may not readily | | | | as we have grown older we have accepted that God |
| understand what praying is. To help try replacing the | | | | does not immediately answer our prayers. A child, |
| word "pray" with the word "talk." Encourage them to | | | | however, has not yet learned this. Therefore, we need |
| talk with God. It is said of men of old that they walked | | | | to teach them patience. |
| and talked with God. | | | | Our children can learn to be patient when we set them |
| Teaching your children love and patience is important | | | | a good example. When I look at the times I become |
| when they are learning to pray. These two virtues | | | | impatient I see an opportunity to teach my children. |
| when practiced keep our hearts soft and teachable. | | | | When I am driving for example, I do not have to be the |
| The prophet Samuel was able hear the still small voice | | | | first guy there. You can share with your children that |
| of the Lord because his heart was teachable. | | | | this is patient. You are willing to wait a little longer to |
| Part of praying is asking the Lord for the things we | | | | arrive at your destination just like you are willing to wait |
| want and need. When we teach children what love is | | | | on the Lord. |
| we help them feel positive and hopeful about their | | | | When we teach our children to pray we also need to |
| future. Their prayers will be more uplifting and from the | | | | teach them about love and patience. God is love and |
| heart. | | | | will always answer our prayers. We must be patient |
| Love is the most powerful force in the universe. When | | | | though and be willing to wait for him to answer us. |