To the Moms and Dads, & Everyone in Between

Moms & Dads- I have a confession to make.

 

If you have entrusted your children to me at all over the past few years- I have without a doubt prayed for them.

 

There is nothing as special to me as holding a child and speaking words of life over them. I feel an inexplicable intimacy with the Father as I pray while rocking an infant to sleep or comforting a crying child. I have played joyful worship music and had a dance party of praise to the Lord with three year olds while babysitting. I have sung songs of praise over a crying baby. I have sat by a crib and prayed for a toddler who was too scared to sleep.

 

People always tell me I have a "gift" with children, but the truth is…children are a gift. 

 

Jesus said "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 19:14.

 

Kids are able to view the world with a special kind of faith- an excitement and expectancy that blows me away. I look at them and I want more of what they have. So of course I pray for them. That they would never lose the innocence and preciousness that the world seems determined to destroy. I believe words have power- so I pray for them to walk into great things. To have revelations of Jesus. To become exactly the people they were created to be.  
 

It is my privilege to pray for them. Jesus (see verse above) understood that as well. I am convinced God reveals Himself to the little ones in a special way as we pray for them. I have watched the entire countenance of a child or an infant change as I prayed for peace. I have calmed the crazy, "impossible" child with words of the Father. Trust me, I don't even fully understand it myself.

 

If I haven't communicated it yet- the point I am trying to make is that there is something beautiful about praying for a child.
 

But what happens when the children start praying for us?

 

Before I left, the parents of a little 3 year old girl I watch told me that while saying her nightly prayers, without any prompting, she began to pray for me as I travel to "love and help kids around the world." They (and I) were blown away by her words and heart.

 

Wow. There is so much power in the words of a child. And yet so often, we ignore them. We pat them on the head and tune them out as they ramble on about whatever has captured their attention at the moment. We tell them to stop asking questions. We attribute the things they share with us to an "overactive" imagination.

 

This month, I have witnessed with my own eyes the power that the faith and prayers of children can have.

 

The other night, as I sat in with the kids and nannies during their nightly songs & prayers-something amazing happened. As Carolina (nanny) was praying, one of the other nannies in the room began to cry silently. Daniel, a very special boy here with hemiplegia and cerebral palsy, put his hand on her shoulder. Carolina asked him to pray for her- so he raises up to his feet, hand on her shoulder and hand raised to heaven, and begins to beseech God on her behalf. He begins to weep openly as He cried out to our Heavenly Father. Lyla, another special little girl here, came over and laid hands on her as well. I know I am not doing this story justice, but I will tell you that the Spirit of the Lord fell.

The entire room was consumed with His presence as that child prayed.

 

This morning, we dressed up the kids and took them to a local church they call the "happy" church. As worship started, people began to dance-and no joke- kids of all ages began to form a line and run through the room clapping and dancing. Naturally, I grabbed Helen, a precious little girl with Down's, and we joined in the fun! As we got to the front of the room with the group and began to dance and worship, I looked around and observed the faces of each of the kids around me. They were overflowing with joy. I could see the Holy Spirit on each of their faces. And their praises invited Him in to fill up that room in no time at all. Those kids took us right into His presence.

 

So often we discount the power of a child's faith or prayers. We help them memorize a couple of one line prayers and "Jesus Loves Me" songs to repeat and send them on their way. We water down their faith to something less than what we think we ourselves are capable of. What an insult to their capabilities. What a tragedy for us.

 

Towards the end of the service today, people began to come to the front to kneel and pray. Lyla, who was sitting next to me (and has severe delayed speech, so often isn't very vocal), began to stare at a young girl kneeling and crying in the midst of the crowd. 

 

"Lyla," I asked, "quieres poner tu mano y orar por ella?"
Translation: Lyla, do you want to lay your hands on that girl and pray for her?

She stared at me with her big brown eyes and I saw something there. I asked her again. She grabbed my hand to pull me up and we walked forward and knelt down together to pray. But she still couldn't stop staring at this one young girl. I asked her again, and she finally walks over, kneels down, and lays one hand on the girls back and with the other grabs her hands to pray for her. 
 

As I watched her, I knew without a doubt God answered that little girls prayers.

Parents, don't discredit your children. Young people without kids, go hang out with some and pray for even a little bit of what they have.

…Child-like faith is going to change the world.