I remember vividly the night Emerson was born. I can remember how the room smelled, I remember the noises I was hearing, I remember every sweet curve of Emmy's face. I remember all of this because I didn't sleep. I laid in that hospital bed staring at her couting each breath. I was too afraid to close my eyes. I was afraid that she would stop breathing and I wouldn't be awake to save her. Over the next few months I had many nights like this. I'd lay her down to sleep and panic because I was consumed with fear of losing her in the night. On those nights I would pray these exact words.... "God, Emmy is yours. I give her to you." Almost instantly when I prayed that prayer, God's peace would rush over me and I was able to sleep. Now that Emmy is older, I don't often have a fear of her not waking from sleeping. My fears have changed. Am I doing it right? Am I holding her back? Am I pushing her too hard? Am I being an example of God so that she is pointed to the cross? Am I expressing love, courage, strength, modesty, and dignity to her? About 5 months ago, Aaron and I decided that instead of just doing a generic prayer at bed time and praying for a few specific family members, we wanted to teach Emmy how to pray for others. I'd seen this idea online and decided to replicate it (another idea pinned here.) We also decided that as Emmy grows and her understanding deepens we'll add more sticks with specific prayer requests and deeper concepts. It was easy to make. I took an empty pickle jar, spray painted the lid pink. I used jumbo popsicle sticks and a pink sharpie to write the names, then tied some silver ribbon around the mouth of the jar. I used a silver craft pen to write Emerson's Prayer Jar on top. Every time she gets in bed, she instantly reminds us to pull a name out of the jar. She loves praying for everyone in the jar and gets excited about each name. She's recently started asking to pull 2 names out of the jar. She'll pray, we'll kiss her and tuck her in and close the door. And then every night I pray... not out of fear for the coming night but for hope in the future God has planned for her... "God, Emmy is yours. I give her to you."
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HEY, I'M JESSICA!
Christian. Wife. Mommy. Daughter. Pastor. Friend. Saved.Redeemed. Beloved.
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