Spontaneous Prayer
Another principial reminded me that prayer is not just about the words we say, but about the relationship we build with Jesus. It’s easy to hear this and think, “I know that!” But I challenged myself to wonder how we, as a parish and school community, can model this better for our children.
One powerful way to do this is through spontaneous prayer—simply talking to God aloud throughout the day. It doesn't require formal words or long prayers; it’s just sharing moments of connection with God as they come up. This can be a beautiful way to demonstrate to our children that prayer is a natural part of our daily lives.
I remember my grandma would pray aloud in the car whenever we heard an ambulance or firetruck's siren. She’d say something like, “God, you are strong, a healer, and protector. Please protect our first responders and those they help today.” It was short, simple, and heartfelt. That moment of spontaneous prayer helped me understand how easy it is to talk to God at any time, in any place.
Of course, we can also use memorized prayers as a family. These prayers are a wonderful way to teach our children the rich traditions of our faith. But incorporating moments of spontaneous prayer into our day—whether it's before a meal, on the way to school, or as we hear a siren—helps show that prayer doesn’t need to be complicated or formal. It’s simply about speaking to God from the heart, right when we need it.
I encourage you to consider building spontaneous prayer into your family routine. Perhaps a bedtime prayer, a prayer for someone in need, or even a simple “Thank you, God, for today.” These small practices can have a profound impact on our children, showing them that they can pray now, no matter their age, and that prayer can be as simple as saying, “I love you, Jesus. Thank you for this day.”