A Bedtime Prayer Book

Plus a Tommy Mommy Giveaway!

Bedtime stories have to be my absolute favorite. Some of the most wonderful memories from my childhood come from bedtime. My parents would tuck me in. Dad would remove my glasses from my nose and give me a kiss. Mom would read, and sing, and pray with me. I always felt safe and loved. Most of all, I learned the importance of giving thanks to God every day. There was never a night my mom didn’t stop to pray with me. Now that I am grown and have my own littles, I have tried to teach them to do the same thing.

The most fun, however, is hearing the sweet, sincere prayers of my four-year-old. As adults, sometimes I think we tend to think our prayers have to be proper, wordy, or profound. But the Bible tells us this:

“And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” Mat 18:3 (NIV)

Isn’t it something when we learn from our own kids? Sometimes I find myself repeating the same prayer over and over: “Thank you for all you’ve given us, please heal those who are sick, please forgive us today, etc…”

But God doesn’t want a speech. He longs to know me and for me to talk to Him openly about my day, my desires, and even my regrets. Here’s a prayer my daughter prayed the other night:

“God, thank you that Daddy letted us watch Wreck-it Ralph and that we got to eat popcorn in the living room. And thank you that my Mommie letted me eat on a tray in front of the TV and please heal Madi and that she would sleep so she can sleep in my room and so Mommie wouldn’t be tired anymore. Amen.” (or something like that)

I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb is a precious little story about a bunny family getting ready for bed. The bunnies say things like “I love you to my toothbrush and back” and “I love you to the bed and back”. I was smiling the whole way through. My favorite stuffed animal as a girl was a bunny and my girls now have bunnies of their own. We’ve been through a few bunnies in our time and while this book is simply adorable, the bigger message lies beneath the surface.

Teaching our children to pray.

Bitty Bunny thanks God for chocolate ice cream and says she is sorry for scribbling on her brother’s coloring page. Mommy Bunny tells her that God loves when we praise him, when we are sorry, and when we are kind to others. “Through our good days and bad days—and all the way back again—God is the biggest love of all” the book says. He loves us and longs for us to know him. We are His children and He is our Father. Why not speak to Him the way you would a parent or close friend? I think you’ll find an intimacy far beyond what you ever thought possible. He loves you to the end of time and back!

It’s giveaway time! Just tell me what your favorite phrase to say to your little ones at bedtime is and you’ll be entered to win a copy of this darling book, courtesy of Tommy Nelson. Leave a comment and enter via the Rafflecopter below. You can earn extra entries by subscribing or connecting with me on Facebook and Twitter. Also, congratulations to Sara Garzon, winner of the “I Love You No Matter What” giveaway!

Enter now through Sunday, February 24^th. I’ll announce a winner on Monday the 25^th.

Until then, Happy Reading!

Yours in Christ,

 S

Our Bunnies

I was given a copy of this book through the Tommy Nelson Mommy program. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own.

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway