Prayer Sticks

I am friends with Anna's buddy Hank's mom. She has recently shared with me how Hank and there family often prays for Anna since Hank chose to add her to the family's prayer sticks. I was interested in the idea of prayer sticks as a helpful reminder to us to pray at dinner time and asked her more about them. Basically the kids choose names to write on popsicle sticks and then place them in a cup where they choose a couple from each night to pray for. She says her kids love it and even fight over who gets to pick the stick and pray first.

Well it didn't take long for our girls to love their prayer sticks. They ask to do the prayer sticks multiple times a day and just like Hank's family fight over who gets to pick and pray first. But it is so awesome to see it in action.

Anna helped create the prayer sticks and even wrote some names. She added all our family, her best preschool friends, her teachers, family friends and of course Belle. She can even read more names due to seeing the prayer sticks every day. 

Anna has gotten to the point where she will say an entire prayer about someone by herself. Ashley can say the beginning and finish a prayer with help. Ashley's prayers go something like this: "Dear God. thank you for ___. They are so nice." Then we will help her finish the rest and letting her fill in the blanks to "I love them very ______ (much). A____ (Amen)."

Lately if the girls start on prayer sticks with out us, Anna will help Ashley with her prayers. She will lead her through a prayer EXACTLY how we do and praise Ashley along the way with good jobs. It is quite a sight to see and reminds me how amazing and patient a big sister Anna really is and how Ashley thinks Anna is one cool big sis!

Even though the prayer sticks may bring an argument to the table every time we do them, it is still an awesome family thing that I am glad we incorporated into our dinner routine.

Much Love,
Jenny