"Daily Bread" in the Words of Babes

For the past almost three weeks, my husband and I have been with our daughter Beth, her husband Nate, and their three lively sons, Kaden, Eli, and William. The plan was to celebrate Christmas together, make a quick dash north for a family wedding, then back to Beth & Nate's to help with a move.

But one by one, we "were dropping like flies" into a viral infection that just wouldn't let go. We all pushed through as much as possible and somehow it all got done.

But despite it all, I was still able to enjoy my usual treasured practice ... that of "putting the boys down" at night before bed (a.k.a. bedtime devotions). We always do a bible story or learn and discuss a verse, pray together and then end with "Babci's song" (a.k.a. Brahm's Lullaby, although It wasn't until Kaden was about 4 y.o. that he learned the true title!)

Well this time, our stories came from a masterpiece of Bible storybooks, The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story whispers His Name. What a glorious book! The boys wanted to read story after story ... and I did too! But now to why I'm telling you all this.

One night the story was titled, How to Pray. And there in the midst of Jesus correcting people's ideas of prayer was a child-like paraphrase of what we call "The Lord's Prayer." It caught my attention because in this prayer is my word of the year "daily bread."

This is what we read:

Hello, Daddy!
We want to know you.
And be close to you.
Please show us how.
Make everything in the world right again.
And in our hearts, too.
Do what is best -- just like you do in heaven, 
And please do it down here, too.
Please give us everything we need today.
Forgive us for doing wrong, for hurting you.
Forgive us just as we forgive other people
when they hurt us.
Rescue us! We need you.
We don't want to keep running away
and hiding from you.
Keep us safe from our enemies.
You're strong, God.
You can do whatever you want.
You are in charge.
Now and forever and for always!
We think you're great!
Amen!
Yes we do!
 

Now isn't that a treasure of a prayer? And did you notice my word of the year in bold right in the midst? Please give us everything we need today.

And do you know what? Despite our fighting sickness, fatigue, overwhelmed-ness, etc, the Lord truly did give each of us our daily bread...everything we needed for that very day. Then the next day, we received what we needed for that one and on and on--enough for each present day.

And so I pray. Would you like to join me?

Thank you, O my Abba, Daddy, Father God! Your promise is true!
You give just what I need for my today.
I receive it with a grateful heart.
And I trust that when tomorrow becomes my today,
your daily bread will be there too.
I love you, my King! Amen.