Last week I took on the rather dizzying task of putting every scripture I think might work for a picture like the one above and putting it on a spreadsheet.
Then — because I am probably insane or maybe just a little too bored — I went through the three-year lectionary and daily offices in my old Book of Common Prayer and put all the occurrences of said scriptures into the spreadsheet. And last night I finished hand writing all those instances onto a blank three-year calendar.
Exciting stuff, right?
I did that because I realize this project is getting bigger than I am, and I needed to make it more manageable.
For this moment, while I'm finishing up some other projects, I'm going to focus on one- or two-scripture printables.
(You can download this one right here for free. No email required or anything. I only ask that if you want to share it with lots of people, you have them pick it up here instead of distributing it. Thanks!)
I didn't actually want to use this scripture.
What if my kids take it literally? I thought. What if it shatters their little faith if they don't get what they ask for?
And then I realized those fears have nothing to do with my children.
See, I know that's not going to happen. Every night, I ask my kids what they're thankful for. They always say people. It's never about their stuff, not even on birthdays or Christmas.
It's the grown-ups I know who want God to be a credit card or a magician.
My oldest is adorable when she prays. (She's adorable other times, too, for the record.)
She uses a slightly louder, more matter of fact voice than normal. And she always just launches in with "God, ..." like she's talking to someone familiar who might be slightly hard of hearing.
Last night she asked God to help the police catch the people who do bad things. She's equal opportunity about this. Sometimes she asks God to help the people running away from the police. And she asked that people would throw away their guns and stop hurting each other.
As I listened to her, I realized she's just fine with faith and prayer. I'm the one with doubts.
The girl in this picture is asking for the same thing my kids often ask for, to be held by their daddy. That's the prayer I need to pray more, and I want to teach my kiddos to do the same.
That's it for now. Peace,
Teresa